The Glory of the Gajachhaya (Elephant-Shadow) Shraddha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.220.1)

आनर्त उवाच त्रयोदश्यां कृते श्राद्धे कस्माद्वंशक्षयो भवेत् एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरात्त्वं महामुने

ānarta uvāca trayodaśyāṁ kṛte śrāddhe kasmādvaṁśakṣayo bhavet etanme sarvamācakṣva vistarāttvaṁ mahāmune

Anarta said: Why does the destruction of one's lineage occur when shraddha is performed on the thirteenth day? Tell me all this in detail, O great sage.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.220.2)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच एषा मेध्यतमा राजन्युगादिः कलिसंभवा स्नाने दाने जपे होमे श्राद्धे ज्ञेया तथाऽक्षया

bhartṛyajña uvāca eṣā medhyatamā rājanyugādiḥ kalisaṁbhavā snāne dāne jape home śrāddhe jñeyā tathā'kṣayā

Bhartriyajna said: O king, this is the most sacred of the Yugadi tithis, marking the arising of the Kali age; it should be known as imperishable in its fruit for bathing, giving, japa, homa, and shraddha.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.220.3)

अस्यां चेत्तु गजच्छाया तिथौ राजन्प्रजायते तदाऽक्षयं मघायोगे श्राद्धं संजायते ध्रुवम्

asyāṁ cettu gajacchāyā tithau rājanprajāyate tadā'kṣayaṁ maghāyoge śrāddhaṁ saṁjāyate dhruvam

But if the Gajachhaya (elephant-shadow) occurs on this very tithi, O king, then, in conjunction with the Magha nakshatra, the shraddha certainly becomes imperishable.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.220.4)

यः क्षीरं मधुना युक्तं तस्मिन्नहनि यच्छति पितॄनुद्दिश्य यो मांसं दद्याद्वाध्रीणसं च यः

yaḥ kṣīraṁ madhunā yuktaṁ tasminnahani yacchati pitṝnuddiśya yo māṁsaṁ dadyādvādhrīṇasaṁ ca yaḥ

Whoever, on that day, offers milk mixed with honey, directed to the ancestors, or whoever offers the flesh of the vadhrinasa —

Verse 5 (skanda.6.220.5)

वाध्रीणसस्य मांसेन तृप्तिर्द्वादशवार्षिकी त्रिःपिबंत्विंद्रियक्षीणं श्वेतं वृद्धमजापतिम्

vādhrīṇasasya māṁsena tṛptirdvādaśavārṣikī triḥpibaṁtviṁdriyakṣīṇaṁ śvetaṁ vṛddhamajāpatim

— by the flesh of the vadhrinasa comes a satisfaction lasting twelve years. This is a white, aged leader of the goats, weak in its senses, thrice-drinking,

Verse 6 (skanda.6.220.6)

तं तु वाध्रीणसं विद्यात्सर्वयूथाधिपं तथा खड्गमांसं च वा दद्यात्तृप्तिर्द्वादशवार्षिकी संजायते न संदेहस्तेषां वाक्यं न मे मृषा

taṁ tu vādhrīṇasaṁ vidyātsarvayūthādhipaṁ tathā khaḍgamāṁsaṁ ca vā dadyāttṛptirdvādaśavārṣikī saṁjāyate na saṁdehasteṣāṁ vākyaṁ na me mṛṣā

— one should know that as the vadhrinasa, leader of the whole herd. Or one may offer the flesh of the rhinoceros; a twelve-year satisfaction arises without doubt — this is not a false word of mine.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.220.7)

आसीद्रथंतरे कल्पे पूर्वं पार्थिवसत्तमः सिताश्वो नाम पांचालदेशीयःपितृभक्तिमान्

āsīdrathaṁtare kalpe pūrvaṁ pārthivasattamaḥ sitāśvo nāma pāṁcāladeśīyaḥpitṛbhaktimān

In the Rathantara kalpa, formerly, there was an excellent king of the country of Panchala named Sitashva, devoted to his ancestors.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.220.8)

मधुना कालशाकेन खड्गमांसेन केवलम् स हि श्राद्धं त्रयोदश्यां कुरुते पायसेन च

madhunā kālaśākena khaḍgamāṁsena kevalam sa hi śrāddhaṁ trayodaśyāṁ kurute pāyasena ca

He would perform the shraddha on the thirteenth day with honey, kalashaka, the flesh of the rhinoceros alone, and kheer.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.220.9)

सोमवंशं समुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं यच्छति भक्तितः

somavaṁśaṁ samuddiśya śrāddhaṁ yacchati bhaktitaḥ

He would offer the shraddha with devotion, directed to the lunar dynasty, his ancestral line.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.220.10)

अथ तैर्बाह्मणैः सर्वैः स भूयः कौतुकान्वितैः कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पृष्टो भुक्त्वा यथेच्छया

atha tairbāhmaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ sa bhūyaḥ kautukānvitaiḥ kasyacittvatha kālasya pṛṣṭo bhuktvā yathecchayā

Then, after some time, those brahmins, having eaten as they wished, questioned him again, filled with curiosity.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.220.11)

श्राद्धादनंतरं राजन्दृष्ट्वा तं श्रद्धयाऽन्वितम् पादावमर्द्दनपरं प्रणिपातपुरः सरम्

śrāddhādanaṁtaraṁ rājandṛṣṭvā taṁ śraddhayā'nvitam pādāvamarddanaparaṁ praṇipātapuraḥ saram

O king, after the shraddha, having seen him full of faith, engaged in massaging their feet, preceded by prostration —

Verse 12 (skanda.6.220.12)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः कृत्वा श्राद्धं महाराज प्रदातव्याऽथ दक्षिणा ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्ततः श्राद्धं पितॄणां चोपतिष्ठति

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ kṛtvā śrāddhaṁ mahārāja pradātavyā'tha dakṣiṇā brāhmaṇebhyastataḥ śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ copatiṣṭhati

The brahmins said: O great king, having performed the shraddha, dakshina should then be given to the brahmins; only then does the shraddha reach the ancestors.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.220.13)

सा त्वया कल्पिताऽस्माकं वितीर्णाद्यापि नो नृप कुप्याकुप्यं परित्यज्य तां देहि नृप मा चिरम्

sā tvayā kalpitā'smākaṁ vitīrṇādyāpi no nṛpa kupyākupyaṁ parityajya tāṁ dehi nṛpa mā ciram

That dakshina which you have determined for us has not yet been given to us today, O king. Setting aside goods of wood or metal, give us that proper dakshina without delay.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.220.14)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा च नृपः प्राह संप्रहृष्टेन चेतसा धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि विप्रैरद्य न संशयः

bhartṛyajña uvāca tacchrutvā ca nṛpaḥ prāha saṁprahṛṣṭena cetasā dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi viprairadya na saṁśayaḥ

Bhartriyajna said: Hearing this, the king spoke with a joyful heart: 'I am blessed, I am today favored by the brahmins — there is no doubt of it.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.220.15)

ये वांछंति ममाभीष्टं श्राद्धे भुक्त्वाऽथ पैतृके तस्माद्ब्रूत महाभागा युष्मभ्यं किं ददाम्यहम्

ye vāṁchaṁti mamābhīṣṭaṁ śrāddhe bhuktvā'tha paitṛke tasmādbrūta mahābhāgā yuṣmabhyaṁ kiṁ dadāmyaham

'You who, having eaten at this ancestral shraddha, wish for what I desire — tell me, O greatly fortunate ones, what shall I give you?'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.220.16)

वरन्नागान्मदोन्मत्तान्भद्रजातिसमुद्भवान् किं वा सप्तिप्रधानांश्च मनोमारुतरंहसः

varannāgānmadonmattānbhadrajātisamudbhavān kiṁ vā saptipradhānāṁśca manomārutaraṁhasaḥ

'Shall it be excellent elephants, maddened with rut, born of a noble breed? Or shall it be foremost horses, swift as thought or wind?'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.220.17)

किं वा स्थानानि चित्राणि ग्रामाणि नगराणि च पितॄनुद्दिश्य यत्किंचिन्नादेयं विद्यते यतः

kiṁ vā sthānāni citrāṇi grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca pitṝnuddiśya yatkiṁcinnādeyaṁ vidyate yataḥ

'Or shall it be wondrous estates, villages, and cities? For, dedicated to the ancestors, there is nothing at all that is not fit to give.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.220.18)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः नास्माकं वाजिभिः कार्यं न रत्नैर्न च हस्तिभिः न देशैर्ग्राममुख्यैर्वा नान्येनापि च केनचित्

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ nāsmākaṁ vājibhiḥ kāryaṁ na ratnairna ca hastibhiḥ na deśairgrāmamukhyairvā nānyenāpi ca kenacit

The brahmins said: We have no need of horses, nor of jewels, nor of elephants; nor of lands or chief villages, nor of anything else whatsoever.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.220.19)

यदर्थेन महाराज पृष्टोस्माभिर्यतो भवान् तस्मान्नो दक्षिणां देहि संदेहघ्नां तपोत्तम

yadarthena mahārāja pṛṣṭosmābhiryato bhavān tasmānno dakṣiṇāṁ dehi saṁdehaghnāṁ tapottama

For the sake of that reason for which you have been questioned by us, O great king — give us, O foremost in austerity, the dakshina that will dispel our doubt.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.220.20)

यां पृच्छामो वयं सर्वे कौतूहलसमाहिताः

yāṁ pṛcchāmo vayaṁ sarve kautūhalasamāhitāḥ

— which we, all filled with curiosity, are asking of you.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.220.21)

राजोवाच उपदेशाधिकारोऽस्ति ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् दातुं नैव ग्रहीतुं च नीचजात्यस्य वैदिकाः

rājovāca upadeśādhikāro'sti brāhmaṇānāṁ mahātmanām dātuṁ naiva grahītuṁ ca nīcajātyasya vaidikāḥ

The king said: The right to give instruction belongs to great-souled brahmins, O Vedic scholars — not to a man of low birth, either to give it or even to receive it.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.220.22)

सोऽहं राजा न सर्वज्ञो यो यच्छामि द्विजोत्तमाः उपदेशं हि युष्मभ्यं सर्वज्ञेभ्यो विचक्षणाः

so'haṁ rājā na sarvajño yo yacchāmi dvijottamāḥ upadeśaṁ hi yuṣmabhyaṁ sarvajñebhyo vicakṣaṇāḥ

O best of the twice-born, I, being merely a king and not omniscient — how should I give instruction to you, who are wise and all-knowing?

Verse 23 (skanda.6.220.23)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः गुरुशिष्यसमुत्थोऽयमुपदेशो महीपते प्रार्थयामो वयं किंचिन्मा भयं त्वं समाविश

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ guruśiṣyasamuttho'yamupadeśo mahīpate prārthayāmo vayaṁ kiṁcinmā bhayaṁ tvaṁ samāviśa

The brahmins said: O lord of the earth, this is not instruction arising between a guru and a disciple; we are merely requesting something of you — have no fear.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.220.24)

वयं च प्रश्नमेकं हि पृच्छामो यदि भूपते ब्रूषे कौतुकयुक्तानां सर्वेषां च द्विजन्मनाम्

vayaṁ ca praśnamekaṁ hi pṛcchāmo yadi bhūpate brūṣe kautukayuktānāṁ sarveṣāṁ ca dvijanmanām

We are only asking a single question, O king — will you answer it for us twice-born ones, all filled with curiosity?

Verse 25 (skanda.6.220.25)

तस्माद्वद महाभाग यदि जानासि तत्त्वतः न चेद्गुह्यतमं किंचित्पृच्छामस्त्वां कुतूहलात्

tasmādvada mahābhāga yadi jānāsi tattvataḥ na cedguhyatamaṁ kiṁcitpṛcchāmastvāṁ kutūhalāt

Therefore speak, O greatly fortunate one, if you truly know it; and if it is some deep secret, still we ask you out of curiosity.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.220.26)

राजोवाच यदि वः संशयो विप्रा युष्मत्प्रश्नमसंशयम् कथयिष्याभि चेद्गुह्यं तद्वद्ध्वं गुह्यज्वराः

rājovāca yadi vaḥ saṁśayo viprā yuṣmatpraśnamasaṁśayam kathayiṣyābhi cedguhyaṁ tadvaddhvaṁ guhyajvarāḥ

The king said: O brahmins, if this is your doubt, I shall certainly answer your question without hesitation; even if it be a secret, I shall tell it — you who burn with the fever of curiosity, listen.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.220.27)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः अन्नेषु च विचित्रेषु लेह्येषु विविधेषु च अमृतेष्वेषु सर्वेषु तथा पेयेषु पार्थिव

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ anneṣu ca vicitreṣu lehyeṣu vividheṣu ca amṛteṣveṣu sarveṣu tathā peyeṣu pārthiva

The brahmins said: Among all these various foods, various things to be licked, all these ambrosial items, and drinks too, O king —

Verse 28 (skanda.6.220.28)

तस्मादद्य दिने ब्रूहि मधु यच्छसि गर्हितम् वर्तते च यथाऽभक्ष्यं ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

tasmādadya dine brūhi madhu yacchasi garhitam vartate ca yathā'bhakṣyaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

— therefore tell us: today, why do you give honey, which is held blameworthy and which stands as forbidden food, especially for brahmins?

Verse 29 (skanda.6.220.29)

तथा विचित्र मासेषु संस्थितेषु नराधिप खङ्गमांसं निरास्वादं कस्माद्यच्छसि केवलम्

tathā vicitra māseṣu saṁsthiteṣu narādhipa khaṅgamāṁsaṁ nirāsvādaṁ kasmādyacchasi kevalam

And likewise, O lord of men, though the months bring various seasonal produce, why do you give only the tasteless flesh of the rhinoceros?

Verse 30 (skanda.6.220.30)

संति शाकानि राजेन्द्र पावनीयानि सर्वशः सुष्ठु स्वादु कराण्यत्र व्यञ्जनार्थं महीपते

saṁti śākāni rājendra pāvanīyāni sarvaśaḥ suṣṭhu svādu karāṇyatra vyañjanārthaṁ mahīpate

O lord of kings, there are, in every way, wholesome vegetables, very tasty ones, suitable here as a relish, O lord of the earth.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.220.31)

कालशाकं सकटुकं मुखाऽऽधिजनकं महत् कस्माद्यच्छसि चास्माकं भक्त्या परमया युतः न श्राद्धे प्रतिषेधश्च प्रकर्तव्यः कथंचन

kālaśākaṁ sakaṭukaṁ mukhā''dhijanakaṁ mahat kasmādyacchasi cāsmākaṁ bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ na śrāddhe pratiṣedhaśca prakartavyaḥ kathaṁcana

Why, then, do you give us the bitter kalashaka, which causes such distress to the mouth, and that too with the utmost devotion? No refusal whatsoever should be made of what is offered in a shraddha —

Verse 32 (skanda.6.220.32)

न च त्याज्यं समुच्छिष्टं तेन भुंजामहे ततः तदत्र कारणेनैव गुरुणा भाव्यमेव हि येन त्वं यच्छसि प्राय एतत्सिद्धिर्भवेत्स्थिता

na ca tyājyaṁ samucchiṣṭaṁ tena bhuṁjāmahe tataḥ tadatra kāraṇenaiva guruṇā bhāvyameva hi yena tvaṁ yacchasi prāya etatsiddhirbhavetsthitā

— nor should what remains be discarded once offered, and so we eat it. But there must indeed be a weighty reason here, by which you offer this repeatedly, believing it brings success.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.220.33)

तस्मात्कथय नः सर्वं परं कौतूहलं हि नः निःस्वादितं यथा दद्यादीदृक्छ्राद्धे विगर्हितम्

tasmātkathaya naḥ sarvaṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ niḥsvāditaṁ yathā dadyādīdṛkchrāddhe vigarhitam

Therefore tell us everything — our curiosity is very great — as to why you would offer, in a shraddha, such tasteless and disreputable things,

Verse 34 (skanda.6.220.34)

यथा त्वं नृपशार्दूल श्रद्धया संप्रयच्छसि

yathā tvaṁ nṛpaśārdūla śraddhayā saṁprayacchasi

— even as you, O tiger among kings, offer them with such faith.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.220.35)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् स वैलक्ष्यस्मितं प्राह सलज्जं पृथिवीपतिः

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ teṣāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ mahātmanām sa vailakṣyasmitaṁ prāha salajjaṁ pṛthivīpatiḥ

Hearing these words of those great-souled brahmins, the lord of the earth, smiling with embarrassment, spoke bashfully:

Verse 36 (skanda.6.220.36)

गुह्यमेतन्महाभागा अस्माकं यदि संस्थितम् अवाच्यमपि वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः

guhyametanmahābhāgā asmākaṁ yadi saṁsthitam avācyamapi vakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ

'Though this is a secret of mine, O greatly fortunate ones, and though it is something not to be spoken, I shall tell it. Listen attentively.'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.220.37)

अहमासं पुरा पापो लुब्धकश्चान्य जन्मनि निहंता सर्वजंतूनां तथा भक्षयिता पुनः

ahamāsaṁ purā pāpo lubdhakaścānya janmani nihaṁtā sarvajaṁtūnāṁ tathā bhakṣayitā punaḥ

'In a former birth I was a sinful hunter, a slayer of all creatures, and, moreover, one who ate their flesh.'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.220.38)

पर्यटामि तदारण्ये धनुषा मृगयारतः सिंहो व्याघ्रो गजेन्द्रो वा शरभो वा द्विजो त्तमाः

paryaṭāmi tadāraṇye dhanuṣā mṛgayārataḥ siṁho vyāghro gajendro vā śarabho vā dvijo ttamāḥ

'I would roam that forest with my bow, devoted to hunting, O best of the twice-born; be it a lion, a tiger, a mighty elephant, or a sharabha —'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.220.39)

मद्बाणगोचरं प्राप्तो न जीवत्यपि कर्हिचित् कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य भ्रममाणो महीतले

madbāṇagocaraṁ prāpto na jīvatyapi karhicit kasyacittvatha kālasya bhramamāṇo mahītale

'— whatever came within range of my arrow never survived. Then, after some time, wandering upon the earth —'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.220.40)

संप्राप्तोऽहं महाभागा अग्निवेशस्य सन्मुनेः आश्रमे समनुप्राप्तो निशीथे क्षुत्पिपासितः

saṁprāpto'haṁ mahābhāgā agniveśasya sanmuneḥ āśrame samanuprāpto niśīthe kṣutpipāsitaḥ

'I arrived, O greatly fortunate ones, at the hermitage of the good sage Agnivesha, coming there at midnight, tormented by hunger and thirst.'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.220.41)

तावत्तत्र सशिष्याणां श्राद्धकर्मविधिं वदन् संस्थितो वेष्टितः शिष्यैः समन्ताद्द्विजसत्तमाः

tāvattatra saśiṣyāṇāṁ śrāddhakarmavidhiṁ vadan saṁsthito veṣṭitaḥ śiṣyaiḥ samantāddvijasattamāḥ

'There, O best of the twice-born, he was seated, surrounded on all sides by his disciples, teaching the rule of the shraddha-rite.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.220.42)

अग्निवेश उवाच ऋक्षे पित्र्ये यदा चन्द्रो हंसश्चापि करे व्रजेत् त्रयोदशी तु सा च्छाया विज्ञेया कुञ्जरोद्भवा

agniveśa uvāca ṛkṣe pitrye yadā candro haṁsaścāpi kare vrajet trayodaśī tu sā cchāyā vijñeyā kuñjarodbhavā

Agnivesha said: When the moon is in the ancestral nakshatra and the sun also enters the sign of Karka — if that be the thirteenth tithi, that shadow should be known as the one arising from the elephant.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.220.43)

पित्र्ये यदास्थितश्चेन्दुर्हंसश्चापि करे स्थितः तिथिर्वैश्रवणी या च सा च्छाया कुञ्जरस्य च

pitrye yadāsthitaścendurhaṁsaścāpi kare sthitaḥ tithirvaiśravaṇī yā ca sā cchāyā kuñjarasya ca

When the moon stands in the ancestral asterism, and the sun likewise stands in Karka, and the tithi is the Vaishravani — that too is the shadow of the elephant.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.220.44)

सैंहिकेयो यदा चंद्रं ग्रसते पर्वसंधिषु हस्तिच्छाया तु सा ज्ञेया तस्यां श्राद्धं समाचरेत्

saiṁhikeyo yadā caṁdraṁ grasate parvasaṁdhiṣu hasticchāyā tu sā jñeyā tasyāṁ śrāddhaṁ samācaret

When Rahu seizes the moon at the junctures of the parvan — that is, during a lunar eclipse — that should be known as the elephant's shadow; the shraddha should be performed at that time.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.220.45)

तस्यां यः कुरुते श्राद्धं जलैरपि प्रभक्तितः यावद्द्वादश वर्षाणि पितरस्तस्य तर्पिताः

tasyāṁ yaḥ kurute śrāddhaṁ jalairapi prabhaktitaḥ yāvaddvādaśa varṣāṇi pitarastasya tarpitāḥ

Whoever, with devotion, performs the shraddha at that time, even with water alone, his ancestors remain satisfied for as long as twelve years.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.220.46)

वनस्पतिगते सोमे या च्छाया पूर्वतोमुखी गजच्छाया तु सा ज्ञेया पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्

vanaspatigate some yā cchāyā pūrvatomukhī gajacchāyā tu sā jñeyā pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam

When the moon is in Vanaspati and the shadow faces eastward, that should be known as the true gajachhaya; whatever is given to the ancestors then is imperishable.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.220.47)

सा भवेच्च न सन्देहः पुण्यदा पैतृकी तिथिः तस्यां श्राद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं संभाराः संभृताश्च ये

sā bhavecca na sandehaḥ puṇyadā paitṛkī tithiḥ tasyāṁ śrāddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ saṁbhārāḥ saṁbhṛtāśca ye

That, without doubt, becomes a meritorious tithi for the ancestors; the shraddha should be performed then, with whatever materials have already been gathered.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.220.48)

प्रभाते तु न सन्देहः पितॄणां परितृप्तये शाकैस्तथैंगुदैर्बिल्वैर्बदरैश्चिर्भटैरपि

prabhāte tu na sandehaḥ pitṝṇāṁ paritṛptaye śākaistathaiṁgudairbilvairbadaraiścirbhaṭairapi

In the morning, without doubt, for the full satisfaction of the ancestors, offerings may be made with vegetables, and likewise with ingudi-fruit, bilva, jujube, and chirbhata.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.220.49)

यदन्नं पुरुषोऽश्नाति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः बाढमित्येव ते प्रोच्य गताः स्वंस्वं निकेतनम्

yadannaṁ puruṣo'śnāti tadannāstasya devatāḥ bāḍhamityeva te procya gatāḥ svaṁsvaṁ niketanam

Whatever food a man eats becomes food for his own deities too. Having said only 'so be it,' they each went to their own dwelling.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.220.50)

सर्वे शिष्या महाभागाः नारायणपुरोगमाः अग्निवेश्योऽपि सुष्वाप समामन्त्र्य द्विजोत्तमान्

sarve śiṣyā mahābhāgāḥ nārāyaṇapurogamāḥ agniveśyo'pi suṣvāpa samāmantrya dvijottamān

All the greatly fortunate disciples, with Narayana foremost, departed, and Agnivesha too, having taken leave of the best of the twice-born, went to sleep.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.220.51)

तेन संकथ्यमानं च रात्रौ तच्च श्रुतं मया अहं चापि करिष्यामि प्रातः श्राद्धमसंशयम्

tena saṁkathyamānaṁ ca rātrau tacca śrutaṁ mayā ahaṁ cāpi kariṣyāmi prātaḥ śrāddhamasaṁśayam

'That which he was thus expounding in the night, I too heard; and I resolved: I too shall certainly perform the shraddha in the morning.'

Verse 52 (skanda.6.220.52)

निहत्य खड्गमादाय तस्य मांसं सुपुष्कलम् तथा मधु समादाय कालशाकं विशेषतः

nihatya khaḍgamādāya tasya māṁsaṁ supuṣkalam tathā madhu samādāya kālaśākaṁ viśeṣataḥ

'Having killed a rhinoceros and taken its abundant flesh, and likewise having gathered honey, and especially kalashaka —'

Verse 53 (skanda.6.220.53)

स्वजातीयेभ्य आदाय तर्पयिष्यामि तान्पितॄन्

svajātīyebhya ādāya tarpayiṣyāmi tānpitṝn

'— having obtained these from creatures of my own kind, I shall satisfy those ancestors.'

Verse 54 (skanda.6.220.54)

एवं निश्चित्य मनसा प्रसुप्तोऽहं द्विजोत्तमाः ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमण्डले

evaṁ niścitya manasā prasupto'haṁ dvijottamāḥ tataḥ prabhāte vimale prodgate ravimaṇḍale

'Having thus resolved in my mind, O best of the twice-born, I fell asleep. Then, at clear dawn, when the disc of the sun had risen —'

Verse 55 (skanda.6.220.55)

मधुजालानि भूरीणि गृहीतानि मया ततः कालशाकं तथा लब्धं स्वेच्छया द्विजसत्तमाः

madhujālāni bhūrīṇi gṛhītāni mayā tataḥ kālaśākaṁ tathā labdhaṁ svecchayā dvijasattamāḥ

'— I then gathered abundant combs of honey, and likewise obtained kalashaka at will, O best of the twice-born.'

Verse 56 (skanda.6.220.56)

ततः सर्वं समादाय श्रपितं तत्क्षणान्मया स्नात्वा च निजवर्गाणां पितॄनुद्दिश्य चात्मनः प्रदत्तं लुब्धकानां च भक्तिपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमाः

tataḥ sarvaṁ samādāya śrapitaṁ tatkṣaṇānmayā snātvā ca nijavargāṇāṁ pitṝnuddiśya cātmanaḥ pradattaṁ lubdhakānāṁ ca bhaktipūrvaṁ dvijottamāḥ

'Then, having taken all of it, I cooked it at once; and having bathed, I offered it with devotion, directed to my own ancestors and to myself, and gave it also to fellow hunters, O best of the twice-born.'

Verse 57 (skanda.6.220.57)

एवं मया पुरा दत्तं पितॄनुद्दिश्य तान्निजान् नान्यत्किंचिन्मया दत्तं कदाचित्कस्यचिद्विजाः

evaṁ mayā purā dattaṁ pitṝnuddiśya tānnijān nānyatkiṁcinmayā dattaṁ kadācitkasyacidvijāḥ

'Thus formerly I gave, directed to my own ancestors, O brahmins; never at any time did I give anything else to anyone.'

Verse 58 (skanda.6.220.58)

ततः कालेन महता मृत्युं प्राप्तोऽस्म्यहं द्विजाः तद्दानस्य प्रभावेन पार्थिवीं योनिमाश्रितः

tataḥ kālena mahatā mṛtyuṁ prāpto'smyahaṁ dvijāḥ taddānasya prabhāvena pārthivīṁ yonimāśritaḥ

'Then, after a great length of time, I met with death, O brahmins; and by the power of that gift, I attained a royal birth.'

Verse 59 (skanda.6.220.59)

एवं जातिस्मरत्वं च सञ्जातं मे द्विजोत्तमाः ते च मे तर्पितास्तेन खड्गमांसेन माक्षिकैः

evaṁ jātismaratvaṁ ca sañjātaṁ me dvijottamāḥ te ca me tarpitāstena khaḍgamāṁsena mākṣikaiḥ

'Thus I have gained the memory of my past birth, O best of the twice-born; and by that gift of rhinoceros-flesh and honey, those ancestors of mine were satisfied —'

Verse 60 (skanda.6.220.60)

संप्राप्ताः परमां प्रीतिं ततो द्वाशवार्षिकीम् एतस्मात्कारणाच्छ्राद्धं प्रकरोमि द्विजोत्तमाः

saṁprāptāḥ paramāṁ prītiṁ tato dvāśavārṣikīm etasmātkāraṇācchrāddhaṁ prakaromi dvijottamāḥ

'— and attained supreme delight lasting twelve years thereafter. For this reason, O best of the twice-born, I perform this shraddha.'

Verse 61 (skanda.6.220.61)

खड्गमांसेन मधुना कालशाकेन भूरिशः विधिहीनं द्विजैर्हीनं तिलदर्भैर्विवर्जितम्

khaḍgamāṁsena madhunā kālaśākena bhūriśaḥ vidhihīnaṁ dvijairhīnaṁ tiladarbhairvivarjitam

'With rhinoceros-flesh, honey, and kalashaka in abundance — though it was devoid of proper procedure, devoid of brahmins, and lacking in sesame and kusha grass —'

Verse 62 (skanda.6.220.62)

मया तद्विहितं श्राद्धं तस्यैतत्फलमागतम् सांप्रतं विधिना सम्यग्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः

mayā tadvihitaṁ śrāddhaṁ tasyaitatphalamāgatam sāṁprataṁ vidhinā samyagbrāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ

'— that shraddha which I performed bore this very fruit that you now see. Now, at present, according to proper rule, with brahmins learned in the Veda —'

Verse 63 (skanda.6.220.63)

उपविष्टैः करोम्येव यच्छ्राद्धं श्रद्धयान्वितः दर्भैस्तिलैः समोपेतं मन्त्रवच्च द्विजोत्तमाः

upaviṣṭaiḥ karomyeva yacchrāddhaṁ śraddhayānvitaḥ darbhaistilaiḥ samopetaṁ mantravacca dvijottamāḥ

'— seated duly, I now perform the shraddha endowed with faith, complete with kusha grass and sesame, and with the proper mantras, O best of the twice-born.'

Verse 64 (skanda.6.220.64)

नो जानामि फलं किं वा सांप्रतं च भविष्यति तस्मादेवं परिज्ञाय यूयं चैव द्विजोत्तमाः

no jānāmi phalaṁ kiṁ vā sāṁprataṁ ca bhaviṣyati tasmādevaṁ parijñāya yūyaṁ caiva dvijottamāḥ

'I do not know what fruit this present performance will bring in the future. Therefore, having understood this, you too, O best of the twice-born —'

Verse 65 (skanda.6.220.65)

संतर्पयध्वं च पितॄन्निजान्गजदिने स्थिते छायायां चैव जातायां कुञ्जरस्य द्विजोत्तमाः

saṁtarpayadhvaṁ ca pitṝnnijāngajadine sthite chāyāyāṁ caiva jātāyāṁ kuñjarasya dvijottamāḥ

'— should satisfy your own ancestors when the elephant-day arrives, when the shadow of the elephant has occurred, O best of the twice-born,'

Verse 66 (skanda.6.220.66)

येन संजायते तृप्तिः पितॄणां द्वादशाब्दिकी युष्माकं च गतिः श्रेष्ठा यथा जाता ममाधुना

yena saṁjāyate tṛptiḥ pitṝṇāṁ dvādaśābdikī yuṣmākaṁ ca gatiḥ śreṣṭhā yathā jātā mamādhunā

'— by which a twelve-year satisfaction arises for the ancestors, and your own destiny may become as excellent as mine has now become.'

Verse 67 (skanda.6.220.67)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः संतुष्टाः साधुवादांश्च ददुस्तस्य महीपतेः

bhartṛyajña uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sarve te brāhmaṇottamāḥ saṁtuṣṭāḥ sādhuvādāṁśca dadustasya mahīpateḥ

Bhartriyajna said: Having heard his words, all those best of brahmins, well pleased, gave words of praise to that king.

Verse 68 (skanda.6.220.68)

ततःप्रभृति चक्रुस्ते श्राद्धानि द्विजसत्तमाः त्रयोदश्यां नभस्यस्य कृष्णायां भक्तितत्पराः

tataḥprabhṛti cakruste śrāddhāni dvijasattamāḥ trayodaśyāṁ nabhasyasya kṛṣṇāyāṁ bhaktitatparāḥ

From that time onward, those best of the twice-born, intent on devotion, performed their shraddhas on the dark thirteenth of the month of Bhadrapada,

Verse 69 (skanda.6.220.69)

मधुना कालशाकेन खड्गमांसेन तर्पिताः प्राप्नुवंति परां सिद्धिं विमानवरमास्थिताः

madhunā kālaśākena khaḍgamāṁsena tarpitāḥ prāpnuvaṁti parāṁ siddhiṁ vimānavaramāsthitāḥ

being satisfied with honey, kalashaka, and rhinoceros-flesh; they attained supreme accomplishment, mounted upon excellent celestial chariots.

Verse 70 (skanda.6.220.70)

स्पर्धंते सहिता दैवैः पितरश्च विशेषतः वंशजेन प्रदत्तस्य प्रभावात्सुरसत्तमाः

spardhaṁte sahitā daivaiḥ pitaraśca viśeṣataḥ vaṁśajena pradattasya prabhāvātsurasattamāḥ

By the power of what was given by their descendants, the ancestors, especially, came to rival even the gods.

Verse 71 (skanda.6.220.71)

श्राद्धार्थं संपरिज्ञाय मन्त्रं चक्रुः परस्परम् आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा नासत्यावपि पार्थिव

śrāddhārthaṁ saṁparijñāya mantraṁ cakruḥ parasparam ādityā vasavo rudrā nāsatyāvapi pārthiva

Understanding this for the sake of the shraddha, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and even the two Nasatyas took counsel together, O king,

Verse 72 (skanda.6.220.72)

यथा न भवति श्राद्धं तस्मिन्नहनि भूतले यत्प्रभावाद्वयं सर्वे मानुषैः श्राद्धमाश्रितैः न यामोऽभिभवस्थानं तस्माच्छप्स्यामहे च तान्

yathā na bhavati śrāddhaṁ tasminnahani bhūtale yatprabhāvādvayaṁ sarve mānuṣaiḥ śrāddhamāśritaiḥ na yāmo'bhibhavasthānaṁ tasmācchapsyāmahe ca tān

— saying: 'Let there be no shraddha performed on that day on earth, by whose power we are all, because of men resorting to this shraddha, no longer left unsurpassed; therefore we shall curse them.'

Verse 73 (skanda.6.220.73)

अद्यप्रभृति यः श्राद्धं त्रयोदश्यां करिष्यति कन्यासंस्थे सहस्रांशौ तस्य स्याद्वंशसंक्षयः

adyaprabhṛti yaḥ śrāddhaṁ trayodaśyāṁ kariṣyati kanyāsaṁsthe sahasrāṁśau tasya syādvaṁśasaṁkṣayaḥ

'From this day forward, whoever shall perform the shraddha on the thirteenth day while the thousand-rayed sun stands in Kanya (Virgo) — his lineage shall be destroyed.'

Verse 74 (skanda.6.220.74)

इति शापेन देवानां निर्दग्धेयं महातिथिः

iti śāpena devānāṁ nirdagdheyaṁ mahātithiḥ

Thus, by the curse of the gods, this great tithi was burned away, rendered inauspicious for ordinary use.

Verse 75 (skanda.6.220.75)

ततःप्रभृति नैतस्या क्रियते श्राद्धमुत्तमम् यः प्रमादेन कुरुते तस्य स्याद्वंश संक्षयः

tataḥprabhṛti naitasyā kriyate śrāddhamuttamam yaḥ pramādena kurute tasya syādvaṁśa saṁkṣayaḥ

From that time onward, the excellent shraddha is not performed on this tithi; whoever performs it through carelessness, his lineage is destroyed.

Verse 76 (skanda.6.220.76)

येन भीता न कुर्वंति च्छायायां कुञ्जरस्य च विशेषेण गजच्छाये तत्र पिण्डोऽयमाहृतः

yena bhītā na kurvaṁti cchāyāyāṁ kuñjarasya ca viśeṣeṇa gajacchāye tatra piṇḍo'yamāhṛtaḥ

Fearing this, people do not perform it — except in the shadow of the elephant; especially at the time of the true Gajachhaya, this offering of the pinda is undertaken there.