The Enumeration of the Things Ordained by Brahma at Creation as Fit for the Shraddha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.221.1)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच एतस्मात्कारणात्कश्चित्तस्मिन्नहनि पार्थिव ददाति नैव च श्राद्धं पितॄनुद्दिश्य कर्हिचित् वंशच्छेदभयाद्राजन्सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

bhartṛyajña uvāca etasmātkāraṇātkaścittasminnahani pārthiva dadāti naiva ca śrāddhaṁ pitṝnuddiśya karhicit vaṁśacchedabhayādrājansatyametanmayoditam

Bhartriyajna said: For this reason, O king, some never at all offer the shraddha to the ancestors on that day, out of fear of the severance of their lineage — this, O king, is the truth I have declared.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.221.2)

श्राद्धं विनापि दातव्यं तद्दिने मधुना सह पायसं ब्राह्मणाग्र्येभ्यः सघृतं तृप्तिकारणात्

śrāddhaṁ vināpi dātavyaṁ taddine madhunā saha pāyasaṁ brāhmaṇāgryebhyaḥ saghṛtaṁ tṛptikāraṇāt

Even without the full shraddha, on that day kheer together with honey and ghee should be given to the foremost brahmins, for the sake of satisfaction.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.221.3)

खड्गमांसं कालशाकं मांसं वाध्रीणसोद्भवम् प्रदेयं ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च तत्समंतादुदाहृतम्

khaḍgamāṁsaṁ kālaśākaṁ māṁsaṁ vādhrīṇasodbhavam pradeyaṁ brāhmaṇebhyaśca tatsamaṁtādudāhṛtam

Rhinoceros-flesh, kalashaka, and the flesh arising from the vadhrinasa should be given to the brahmins — this has been fully declared.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.221.4)

त्रिःपिबश्चेंद्रियक्षीणः सर्वयूथानुगस्तथा एष वाध्रीणसः प्रोक्तः पितॄणां तृप्तिदः सदा

triḥpibaśceṁdriyakṣīṇaḥ sarvayūthānugastathā eṣa vādhrīṇasaḥ proktaḥ pitṝṇāṁ tṛptidaḥ sadā

The thrice-drinking one, weak in its senses, followed by the whole herd — this is declared to be the vadhrinasa, ever a giver of satisfaction to the ancestors.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.221.5)

तस्याभावेऽपि दातव्यं क्षीरौदनमनुत्तमम् तस्मिन्नहनि विप्रेभ्यः पितॄणां तुष्टये नृप

tasyābhāve'pi dātavyaṁ kṣīraudanamanuttamam tasminnahani viprebhyaḥ pitṝṇāṁ tuṣṭaye nṛpa

In its absence, unsurpassed milk-rice should be given to the brahmins on that day, for the gratification of the ancestors, O king.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.221.6)

तस्याभावेऽपि दातव्यं जलं तिलविमिश्रितम् सदर्भं सहिरण्यं च हिरण्यशकलान्वितम्

tasyābhāve'pi dātavyaṁ jalaṁ tilavimiśritam sadarbhaṁ sahiraṇyaṁ ca hiraṇyaśakalānvitam

In the absence of that too, water mixed with sesame should be given, together with kusha grass and a fragment of gold.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.221.7)

यच्छ्रेयो जायते पुंसः पक्षश्राद्धेन पार्थिव कृतेन तत्फलं कृत्स्नं तस्मिन्नहनि पार्थिव

yacchreyo jāyate puṁsaḥ pakṣaśrāddhena pārthiva kṛtena tatphalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ tasminnahani pārthiva

Whatever benefit accrues to a man, O king, from the ordinary fortnightly shraddha — that entire fruit is obtained merely by these small offerings on that day.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.221.8)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य चाऽऽज्येन मधुना पायसेन च कालशाकेन मधुना खड्गमांसेन वा नृप

pitṝnuddiśya cā''jyena madhunā pāyasena ca kālaśākena madhunā khaḍgamāṁsena vā nṛpa

— directed to the ancestors, with ghee, with honey, and with kheer; or with kalashaka, with honey, or with rhinoceros-flesh, O king —

Verse 9 (skanda.6.221.9)

श्राद्धं विनापि दत्तेन श्रुतिरेषा पुरातनी तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पित्र्यर्क्ष्ये समुपस्थिते त्रयोदश्यां नभस्यस्य हस्तगे दिननायके

śrāddhaṁ vināpi dattena śrutireṣā purātanī tasmātsarvaprayatnena pitryarkṣye samupasthite trayodaśyāṁ nabhasyasya hastage dinanāyake

— given even without the full shraddha rite: this is the ancient teaching. Therefore, with every effort, when the ancestral asterism has arrived, on the thirteenth of Bhadrapada, when the sun is in Karka —

Verse 10 (skanda.6.221.10)

दरिद्रेणापि दातव्यं हिरण्यशकलान्वितम् तोयं तिलैर्युतं राजन्पितॄणां तुष्टिमिच्छता

daridreṇāpi dātavyaṁ hiraṇyaśakalānvitam toyaṁ tilairyutaṁ rājanpitṝṇāṁ tuṣṭimicchatā

— even a poor man who desires the satisfaction of the ancestors should give water mixed with sesame, together with a fragment of gold, O king.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.221.11)

आनर्त उवाच मांसं विगर्हितं विप्र यतः शास्त्रे निगद्यते तस्मात्तत्क्रियते केन श्राद्धं कीर्तय मेऽखिलम्

ānarta uvāca māṁsaṁ vigarhitaṁ vipra yataḥ śāstre nigadyate tasmāttatkriyate kena śrāddhaṁ kīrtaya me'khilam

Anarta said: O brahmin, since meat is declared blameworthy in the shastras, why then is the shraddha performed with it? Declare all this to me.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.221.12)

स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयति निर्दयः स नूनं नरकं याति प्रोक्तमेतन्महर्षिभिः

svamāṁsaṁ paramāṁsena yo vardhayati nirdayaḥ sa nūnaṁ narakaṁ yāti proktametanmaharṣibhiḥ

'He who, without mercy, nourishes his own flesh with the flesh of another, certainly goes to hell' — this has been declared by the great sages.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.221.13)

त्वं च तस्य प्रभावं मे प्रजल्पसि द्विजोत्तम विशेषाच्छ्राद्धकृत्ये च तदेवं मम संशयः

tvaṁ ca tasya prabhāvaṁ me prajalpasi dvijottama viśeṣācchrāddhakṛtye ca tadevaṁ mama saṁśayaḥ

Yet you speak to me of its power, O best of the twice-born, especially in the performance of the shraddha — this, then, is my doubt.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.221.14)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाभाग मांसं सद्भिर्विगर्हितम् श्राद्धे प्रयुज्यते यस्मात्तत्तेऽहं वच्मि कारणम्

bhartṛyajña uvāca satyametanmahābhāga māṁsaṁ sadbhirvigarhitam śrāddhe prayujyate yasmāttatte'haṁ vacmi kāraṇam

Bhartriyajna said: It is true, O greatly fortunate one, that meat is condemned by the virtuous. As to why it is used in the shraddha, I shall tell you the reason.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.221.15)

यदा चारंभिता सृष्टिर्ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा संपूज्य च पितॄन्देवान्नांदीमुखपुरःसरान् तदा खड्गः समुत्पन्नः पूर्वं वाध्रीणसश्च यः

yadā cāraṁbhitā sṛṣṭirbrahmaṇā lokakāriṇā saṁpūjya ca pitṝndevānnāṁdīmukhapuraḥsarān tadā khaḍgaḥ samutpannaḥ pūrvaṁ vādhrīṇasaśca yaḥ

When creation was begun by Brahma, the maker of the worlds, and after he had worshipped the ancestor-gods with the Nandimukha rite — then the rhinoceros first came into being, and also the vadhrinasa.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.221.16)

ततो ये पितरो दिव्या ये च मानुषसम्भवाः जगृहुस्ते ततः सर्वे बलिभूतमिवात्मनः

tato ye pitaro divyā ye ca mānuṣasambhavāḥ jagṛhuste tataḥ sarve balibhūtamivātmanaḥ

Then those ancestors who were divine, and those who arose among men, all of them took hold of these two as though they were their own sacrificial offering.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.221.17)

तानुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा एतौ तु पितरो मया युष्मभ्यं कल्पितौ सम्यग्बलिभूतौ प्रगृह्यताम्

tānuvāca tato brahmā etau tu pitaro mayā yuṣmabhyaṁ kalpitau samyagbalibhūtau pragṛhyatām

Then Brahma said to them: 'O ancestors, these two have indeed been fashioned by me for you; accept them properly as your sacrificial share.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.221.18)

एताभ्यां परमा प्रीतिर्युष्मभ्यं संभविष्यति मम वाक्यादसंदिग्धं परमेतौ नरो भुवि

etābhyāṁ paramā prītiryuṣmabhyaṁ saṁbhaviṣyati mama vākyādasaṁdigdhaṁ parametau naro bhuvi

'Through these two, supreme delight shall come to you — by my word, without doubt. But henceforth, on earth, a man [who slays these two for your sake] —'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.221.19)

नैव संप्राप्स्यते पापं युष्मदर्थंहनन्नपि तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन दातव्यं भूतिमिच्छता

naiva saṁprāpsyate pāpaṁ yuṣmadarthaṁhanannapi tasmātsarvaprayatnena dātavyaṁ bhūtimicchatā

'— even in killing these two for your sake, he shall not incur sin at all. Therefore, one who desires prosperity should, with every effort, offer —'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.221.20)

खड्गवाध्रीणसोद्भूतं मांसं श्राद्धे सुतृप्तिदम् तौ चापि परमौ दिव्यौ स्वर्गं लोकं गमिष्यतः

khaḍgavādhrīṇasodbhūtaṁ māṁsaṁ śrāddhe sutṛptidam tau cāpi paramau divyau svargaṁ lokaṁ gamiṣyataḥ

'— the flesh arising from the rhinoceros and the vadhrinasa, which grants full satisfaction in the shraddha. And these two supremely divine creatures shall themselves go to the world of heaven, when so offered.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.221.21)

श्राद्धदस्य परं श्रेयो भविष्यति सुदुर्लभम् पितॄणां चाक्षया तृप्तिर्भवेद्द्वादशवार्षिकी

śrāddhadasya paraṁ śreyo bhaviṣyati sudurlabham pitṝṇāṁ cākṣayā tṛptirbhaveddvādaśavārṣikī

Supreme and most rare good fortune shall come to the giver of the shraddha, and the ancestors' satisfaction shall be imperishable, lasting twelve years.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.221.22)

एतस्मात्कारणाच्छस्तं मांसमाभ्यां नराधिप तस्मिन्नहनि नान्यत्र विनियोगोऽस्य कीर्तितः

etasmātkāraṇācchastaṁ māṁsamābhyāṁ narādhipa tasminnahani nānyatra viniyogo'sya kīrtitaḥ

For this reason, the flesh of these two is commended, O lord of men; its use, however, is declared only for that day, not otherwise.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.221.23)

रोहिताश्व उवाच अप्राप्तखड्गमांसस्य तथा वाध्रीणसस्य च कथं श्राद्धं भवेद्विप्र पितॄणां तृप्तिकारकम्

rohitāśva uvāca aprāptakhaḍgamāṁsasya tathā vādhrīṇasasya ca kathaṁ śrāddhaṁ bhavedvipra pitṝṇāṁ tṛptikārakam

Rohitashva said: For one who cannot obtain the flesh of the rhinoceros or of the vadhrinasa, how, O brahmin, can the shraddha be made to satisfy the ancestors?

Verse 24 (skanda.6.221.24)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच मधुना सह दातव्यं पायसं पितृतुष्टये तेन वै वार्षिकी तृप्तिः पितॄणां चोपजायते

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca madhunā saha dātavyaṁ pāyasaṁ pitṛtuṣṭaye tena vai vārṣikī tṛptiḥ pitṝṇāṁ copajāyate

Markandeya said: Kheer together with honey should be given for the gratification of the ancestors; by that, a year's satisfaction arises for the ancestors.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.221.25)

आजं च पिशितं राजञ्छिशुमारसमुद्भवम् मांसं प्रतुष्टये प्रोक्तं वत्सरं मासवर्जितम्

ājaṁ ca piśitaṁ rājañchiśumārasamudbhavam māṁsaṁ pratuṣṭaye proktaṁ vatsaraṁ māsavarjitam

Goat's flesh, O king, and flesh arising from the shishumara are declared for gratification lasting a year less a month.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.221.26)

तदभावे वराहस्य दशमासप्रतुष्टिदम् मांसं प्रोक्तं महाराज पितॄणां नात्र संशयः

tadabhāve varāhasya daśamāsapratuṣṭidam māṁsaṁ proktaṁ mahārāja pitṝṇāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

In the absence of that, the flesh of the boar is declared to give ten months' gratification to the ancestors, O great king; there is no doubt in this.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.221.27)

आरण्यमहिषोत्थेन तृप्तिः स्यान्नवमासिकी रुरोश्चैवाष्टमासोत्था एणस्य सप्तमासिका

āraṇyamahiṣotthena tṛptiḥ syānnavamāsikī ruroścaivāṣṭamāsotthā eṇasya saptamāsikā

From the flesh of the wild buffalo, satisfaction lasts nine months; from the ruru deer, eight months; and from the ena antelope, seven months.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.221.28)

शम्बरोर्मासषट्कं च शशकस्य तु पञ्चकम् चत्वारः शल्लकस्योक्तास्त्रयो वा तैत्तिरस्य च

śambarormāsaṣaṭkaṁ ca śaśakasya tu pañcakam catvāraḥ śallakasyoktāstrayo vā taittirasya ca

From the shambara deer, six months; from the hare, five; from the porcupine, four are declared; and from partridge-flesh, three.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.221.29)

मासद्वयं च मत्स्यस्य मासमेकं कपिञ्जले नान्येषां योजयेन्मांसं पितृकार्ये कथंचन

māsadvayaṁ ca matsyasya māsamekaṁ kapiñjale nānyeṣāṁ yojayenmāṁsaṁ pitṛkārye kathaṁcana

From fish, two months; from the kapinjala bird, one month. The flesh of no other creatures should ever be employed in the rites for the ancestors.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.221.30)

एतेषामेव मांसानि पावनानि नृपोत्तम

eteṣāmeva māṁsāni pāvanāni nṛpottama

The flesh of these very creatures alone is purifying, O best of kings.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.221.31)

आनर्त उवाच कस्मादेते पवित्राः स्युर्येषां मांसं प्रचोदितम् श्राद्धे च तन्ममाचक्ष्व यथावद्द्विजसत्तम

ānarta uvāca kasmādete pavitrāḥ syuryeṣāṁ māṁsaṁ pracoditam śrāddhe ca tanmamācakṣva yathāvaddvijasattama

Anarta said: Why are these creatures, whose flesh is enjoined for the shraddha, pure? Declare this to me properly, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.221.32)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच सृष्टिं प्रकुर्वता तेन पशवो लोककारिणा खड्गवाध्रीणसादीनां पश्चात्सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा

bhartṛyajña uvāca sṛṣṭiṁ prakurvatā tena paśavo lokakāriṇā khaḍgavādhrīṇasādīnāṁ paścātsṛṣṭāḥ svayaṁbhuvā

Bhartriyajna said: When creation was made by the Self-existent maker of the worlds, the ordinary animals were created after the rhinoceros, the vadhrinasa, and the others.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.221.33)

एकादशप्रमाणेन ततश्चान्ये नृपोत्तम अजश्च प्रथमं सृष्टः स तथा मेध्यतां गतः

ekādaśapramāṇena tataścānye nṛpottama ajaśca prathamaṁ sṛṣṭaḥ sa tathā medhyatāṁ gataḥ

O best of kings, then the other creatures were created in a series of eleven kinds; the goat was created first, and it accordingly attained purity.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.221.34)

तथैते प्रथमं सृष्टाः पशवोऽत्र नराधिप सस्यानि सृजता तेन तिलाः पूर्वं च निर्मिताः

tathaite prathamaṁ sṛṣṭāḥ paśavo'tra narādhipa sasyāni sṛjatā tena tilāḥ pūrvaṁ ca nirmitāḥ

Thus these animals were the first created here, O lord of men. And when he created the grains, sesame was made first.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.221.35)

श्राद्धार्थं व्रीहयः सृष्टा वन्येषु च प्रियंगवः गोधूमाश्च यवाश्चैव माषा मुद्राश्च वै नृप

śrāddhārthaṁ vrīhayaḥ sṛṣṭā vanyeṣu ca priyaṁgavaḥ godhūmāśca yavāścaiva māṣā mudrāśca vai nṛpa

Rice was created for the sake of the shraddha, and priyangu millet among wild grains; also wheat, barley, black gram, and green gram, O king.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.221.36)

नीवाराश्चापि श्यामाकाः प्रवक्ष्यामि यथाक्रमम् तृप्तिं मांसेन वाञ्छंति मांसं मांसेन वर्जितम्

nīvārāścāpi śyāmākāḥ pravakṣyāmi yathākramam tṛptiṁ māṁsena vāñchaṁti māṁsaṁ māṁsena varjitam

And wild rice, and shyamaka millet — I shall declare them in due order. The ancestors desire satisfaction through such 'flesh,' yet this is flesh free from ordinary violence.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.221.37)

पुष्पजात्यो यदा सृष्टास्तदा प्राक्छतपत्रिका सृष्टा तेन च मुख्या सा श्राद्धकर्मणि सर्वदा

puṣpajātyo yadā sṛṣṭāstadā prākchatapatrikā sṛṣṭā tena ca mukhyā sā śrāddhakarmaṇi sarvadā

When the varieties of flowers were created, the hundred-petalled lotus was created first; therefore it is ever regarded as chief in the rite of shraddha.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.221.38)

धातूनि सृजता तेन रूप्यं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा तेन तद्विहितं श्राद्धे दक्षिणायां प्रतृप्तये

dhātūni sṛjatā tena rūpyaṁ sṛṣṭaṁ svayaṁbhuvā tena tadvihitaṁ śrāddhe dakṣiṇāyāṁ pratṛptaye

When the Self-existent created the metals, silver was created; therefore it is enjoined in the shraddha, as dakshina, for the sake of satisfaction.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.221.39)

राजतेषु च पात्रेषु यद्द्विजेभ्यः प्रदीयते पितृभ्यस्तस्य नैवाऽन्तो युगान्तेऽपि प्रजायते

rājateṣu ca pātreṣu yaddvijebhyaḥ pradīyate pitṛbhyastasya naivā'nto yugānte'pi prajāyate

Whatever is given to brahmins in silver vessels — for the ancestors, its end never comes, not even at the end of an age.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.221.40)

अभावे रूप्यपात्राणां नामापि परिकीर्तयेत् तुष्यंति पितरो राजन्कीर्तनादपि वै यतः

abhāve rūpyapātrāṇāṁ nāmāpi parikīrtayet tuṣyaṁti pitaro rājankīrtanādapi vai yataḥ

In the absence of silver vessels, one should even merely utter its name; for the ancestors, O king, are gratified even by that mere mention.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.221.41)

रसांश्च सृजता तेन मधु सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा तेन तच्छस्यते श्राद्धे पितॄणां तुष्टिदायकम्

rasāṁśca sṛjatā tena madhu sṛṣṭaṁ svayaṁbhuvā tena tacchasyate śrāddhe pitṝṇāṁ tuṣṭidāyakam

When the Self-existent created the essences, honey was created; therefore it is commended in the shraddha, as a giver of satisfaction to the ancestors.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.221.42)

यच्छ्राद्धं मधुना हीनं तद्रसैः सकलैरपि मिष्टान्नैरपि संयुक्तं तत्पितॄणां न तृप्तये

yacchrāddhaṁ madhunā hīnaṁ tadrasaiḥ sakalairapi miṣṭānnairapi saṁyuktaṁ tatpitṝṇāṁ na tṛptaye

A shraddha devoid of honey — even if joined with every other essence, and even with sweet foods — does not lead to the satisfaction of the ancestors.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.221.43)

अणुमात्रमपि श्राद्धे यदि न स्याद्धि माक्षिकम् नामापि कीर्तयेत्तस्य पितॄणां तुष्टये यतः

aṇumātramapi śrāddhe yadi na syāddhi mākṣikam nāmāpi kīrtayettasya pitṝṇāṁ tuṣṭaye yataḥ

If not even the smallest quantity of honey is available for the shraddha, one should at least utter its name — for the sake of the ancestors' satisfaction.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.221.44)

शाकानि सृजता तेन ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना कालशाकं पुरः सृष्टं तेन तत्तृप्तिदायकम्

śākāni sṛjatā tena brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā kālaśākaṁ puraḥ sṛṣṭaṁ tena tattṛptidāyakam

When Brahma the Supreme created the vegetables, kalashaka was created first; therefore it is a giver of satisfaction.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.221.45)

कालं हि सृजता तेन कुतपः प्राग्विनिर्मितः तस्मात्कुतपकाले च श्राद्धं कार्यं विजानता य इच्छेच्छाश्वतीं तृप्तिं पितॄणामात्मनः सुखम्

kālaṁ hi sṛjatā tena kutapaḥ prāgvinirmitaḥ tasmātkutapakāle ca śrāddhaṁ kāryaṁ vijānatā ya icchecchāśvatīṁ tṛptiṁ pitṝṇāmātmanaḥ sukham

When he created time, the kutapa period was made first; therefore, one who understands and who desires everlasting satisfaction for the ancestors and happiness for himself should perform the shraddha at the kutapa time.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.221.46)

वीरुधः सृजता तेन विधिना नृपसत्तम दर्भास्तु प्रथमं सृष्टाः श्राद्धार्हास्तेन ते स्मृताः

vīrudhaḥ sṛjatā tena vidhinā nṛpasattama darbhāstu prathamaṁ sṛṣṭāḥ śrāddhārhāstena te smṛtāḥ

When the Creator, by his ordinance, created the creeping plants, O best of kings, kusha grass was created first; therefore it is remembered as fit for the shraddha.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.221.47)

श्राद्धार्हान्ब्राह्मणांस्तेन सृजता पद्मयोनिना दौहित्राः प्रथमं सृष्टाः श्राद्धार्हास्तेन ते स्मृताः

śrāddhārhānbrāhmaṇāṁstena sṛjatā padmayoninā dauhitrāḥ prathamaṁ sṛṣṭāḥ śrāddhārhāstena te smṛtāḥ

When the lotus-born created the brahmins fit for the shraddha, daughter's-sons were created first; therefore they are remembered as fit for the shraddha.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.221.48)

अपि शौचपरित्यक्तं हीनांगाधिकमेव वा दौहित्रं योजयेच्छ्राद्धे पितॄणां परितुष्टये

api śaucaparityaktaṁ hīnāṁgādhikameva vā dauhitraṁ yojayecchrāddhe pitṝṇāṁ parituṣṭaye

Even a daughter's son who has abandoned purity, or who is deficient or excessive in limb, should still be engaged in the shraddha, for the full satisfaction of the ancestors.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.221.49)

पशून्विसृजता तेन पूर्वं गावो विनिर्मिताः तेन तासां पयः शस्तं श्राद्धे सर्पिर्विशेषतः

paśūnvisṛjatā tena pūrvaṁ gāvo vinirmitāḥ tena tāsāṁ payaḥ śastaṁ śrāddhe sarpirviśeṣataḥ

When he created the animals, cows were made first; therefore their milk is commended in the shraddha, and especially their ghee.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.221.50)

तस्माच्छ्राद्धे घृतं शस्तं प्रदत्तं पितृतुष्टये

tasmācchrāddhe ghṛtaṁ śastaṁ pradattaṁ pitṛtuṣṭaye

Therefore ghee, when offered in the shraddha, is commended for the gratification of the ancestors.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.221.51)

प्रजाश्च सृजता तेन पूर्वं दृष्टा द्विजोत्तमाः तस्मात्प्रशस्तास्ते श्राद्धे पितृतृप्तिकराः सदा

prajāśca sṛjatā tena pūrvaṁ dṛṣṭā dvijottamāḥ tasmātpraśastāste śrāddhe pitṛtṛptikarāḥ sadā

When he created living beings, brahmins were seen first; therefore they are commended, ever bringing satisfaction to the ancestors in the shraddha.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.221.52)

देवांश्च सृजता तेन विश्वेदेवाः कृताः पुरः तेन ते प्रथमं पूज्याः प्रवृत्ते श्राद्धकर्मणि

devāṁśca sṛjatā tena viśvedevāḥ kṛtāḥ puraḥ tena te prathamaṁ pūjyāḥ pravṛtte śrāddhakarmaṇi

When he created the gods, the Vishvedevas were made first; therefore they are to be worshipped first when the rite of the shraddha begins.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.221.53)

ते रक्षंति ततः श्राद्धं यथावत्परितर्पिताः छिद्राणि नाशयंति स्म श्राद्धे पूर्वं प्रपूजिताः

te rakṣaṁti tataḥ śrāddhaṁ yathāvatparitarpitāḥ chidrāṇi nāśayaṁti sma śrāddhe pūrvaṁ prapūjitāḥ

Being duly satisfied, they then protect the shraddha; being worshipped first, they destroy the flaws in the shraddha.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.221.54)

एतैर्मुख्यतमैः सृष्टैः पूर्वं श्राद्धं विनिर्मितम् स्वयं पितामहेनैव ततो देवा विनिर्मिताः

etairmukhyatamaiḥ sṛṣṭaiḥ pūrvaṁ śrāddhaṁ vinirmitam svayaṁ pitāmahenaiva tato devā vinirmitāḥ

With these most excellent created things, the shraddha was fashioned by the Grandsire himself in former times; the gods were created only thereafter.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.221.55)

तेन ते सर्वलोकेषु गताः ख्यातिं पुरा नृप

tena te sarvalokeṣu gatāḥ khyātiṁ purā nṛpa

By this, O king, they attained renown in all the worlds of old.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.221.56)

एतच्छ्राद्धस्य सत्रत्वं मया ते परिकीर्तितम् पितॄणां परमं गुह्यं दत्तस्याक्षयकारकम्

etacchrāddhasya satratvaṁ mayā te parikīrtitam pitṝṇāṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ dattasyākṣayakārakam

This sacrificial nature of the shraddha has been declared to you by me — the supreme secret of the ancestors, which makes whatever is given imperishable.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.221.57)

यश्चैतत्कीर्तयेच्छ्राद्धे क्रियमाणे नृपोत्तम विप्राणां भोक्त्तुकामानां तच्छ्राद्धं त्वक्षयं भवेत्

yaścaitatkīrtayecchrāddhe kriyamāṇe nṛpottama viprāṇāṁ bhokttukāmānāṁ tacchrāddhaṁ tvakṣayaṁ bhavet

Whoever recites this while the shraddha is being performed, O best of kings, before the brahmins who wish to partake — that shraddha becomes imperishable.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.221.58)

यश्चैतत्कृणुयाद्राजन्सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः विहितस्य भवेत्पुण्यं यच्छ्राद्धस्य तदाप्नुयात्

yaścaitatkṛṇuyādrājansamyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ vihitasya bhavetpuṇyaṁ yacchrāddhasya tadāpnuyāt

And whoever, O king, performs this properly, endowed with faith, obtains the merit of a shraddha performed exactly as enjoined.