The Procedure of the Sapindikarana Rite

Verse 1 (skanda.6.225.1)

आनर्त उवाच एकोद्दिष्टविधिं ब्रूहि मम त्वं वदतां वर पार्वणं तु यथा प्रोक्तं विस्तरेण महामते

ānarta uvāca ekoddiṣṭavidhiṁ brūhi mama tvaṁ vadatāṁ vara pārvaṇaṁ tu yathā proktaṁ vistareṇa mahāmate

Anarta said: Tell me the procedure of the ekoddishta rite, O best of speakers, just as the parvana rite has been declared in detail, O great sage.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.225.2)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच त्रीणि संचयनादर्वाक्तानि त्वं शृणु सांप्रतम् यस्मिन्स्थाने भवेन्मृत्युस्तत्र श्राद्धं तु कारयेत्

bhartṛyajña uvāca trīṇi saṁcayanādarvāktāni tvaṁ śṛṇu sāṁpratam yasminsthāne bhavenmṛtyustatra śrāddhaṁ tu kārayet

Bhartriyajna said: Now hear of the three shraddhas that come before the gathering of the bones. In the place where death occurred, the shraddha should be performed there first.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.225.3)

एकोद्दिष्टं ततो मार्गे विश्रामो यत्र कारितः ततः संचयनस्थाने तृतीयं श्राद्धमिष्यते

ekoddiṣṭaṁ tato mārge viśrāmo yatra kāritaḥ tataḥ saṁcayanasthāne tṛtīyaṁ śrāddhamiṣyate

Then the ekoddishta is performed on the road, wherever a resting-place was made; then, at the place of the gathering of the bones, the third shraddha is enjoined.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.225.4)

प्रथमेऽह्नि द्वितीयेह्नि पञ्चमे सप्तमे तथा नवमे दशमे चैव नव श्राद्धानि तानि च

prathame'hni dvitīyehni pañcame saptame tathā navame daśame caiva nava śrāddhāni tāni ca

On the first day, the second day, and likewise the fifth, seventh, ninth, and tenth — these are the nine shraddhas to be performed in that period.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.225.5)

वैतरिण्याश्च संप्राप्तौ प्रेतस्तृप्तिमवाप्नुयात् एकोद्दिष्टं दैवहीनमेकार्घैकपवित्रकम्

vaitariṇyāśca saṁprāptau pretastṛptimavāpnuyāt ekoddiṣṭaṁ daivahīnamekārghaikapavitrakam

Upon reaching the Vaitarani river, the preta attains satisfaction. The ekoddishta rite is devoid of the worship of the gods, and uses a single arghya-vessel and a single kusha-grass pavitraka.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.225.6)

आवाहनपरित्यक्तं कार्यं पार्थिवसत्तम तृप्तिप्रश्नस्तथा कार्यः स्वदितं च सकृत्ततः

āvāhanaparityaktaṁ kāryaṁ pārthivasattama tṛptipraśnastathā kāryaḥ svaditaṁ ca sakṛttataḥ

It should be performed without invocation, O best of kings; the question of satisfaction should likewise be asked, and 'svadita' said only once.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.225.7)

अभिरम्यतामिति मन्त्रेण ब्राह्मणस्य विसर्जनम् अच्छिन्नाग्रमभिन्नाग्रं कुर्याद्दर्भतृणद्वयम् पवित्रं तद्विजानीयादेकोद्दिष्टे विधीयते

abhiramyatāmiti mantreṇa brāhmaṇasya visarjanam acchinnāgramabhinnāgraṁ kuryāddarbhatṛṇadvayam pavitraṁ tadvijānīyādekoddiṣṭe vidhīyate

With the mantra 'abhiramyatām,' the brahmin is dismissed. One should make the pavitra of two blades of kusha grass with uncut and unbroken tips — this is what is enjoined in the ekoddishta rite.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.225.8)

सर्वत्रैव पितः प्रोक्तं पिता तर्पणकर्मणि पित्र्ये संकल्पकाले च पितुरक्षय्यदापने

sarvatraiva pitaḥ proktaṁ pitā tarpaṇakarmaṇi pitrye saṁkalpakāle ca piturakṣayyadāpane

In the tarpana rite, 'pitaḥ' (vocative) is used throughout; 'pitā' (nominative) at the time of the sankalpa; and 'pituḥ' (genitive) when giving the imperishable gift for the father.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.225.9)

गोत्रं स्वरांतं सर्वत्र गोत्रे तर्पणकर्मणि गोत्राय कल्पनविधौ गोत्रस्याक्षय्यदापने

gotraṁ svarāṁtaṁ sarvatra gotre tarpaṇakarmaṇi gotrāya kalpanavidhau gotrasyākṣayyadāpane

'Gotram' (accusative) is used everywhere in the tarpana for the gotra; 'gotrāya' (dative) in the rite of appointing the gotra; 'gotrasya' (genitive) in giving the imperishable gift for the gotra.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.225.10)

शर्मन्नर्घ्यादिकर्तव्ये शर्मा तर्पणकर्मणि शर्मणे सस्यदाने च शर्मणोऽक्षय्यके विधौ

śarmannarghyādikartavye śarmā tarpaṇakarmaṇi śarmaṇe sasyadāne ca śarmaṇo'kṣayyake vidhau

'Sharman' (vocative) is used when the arghya and the like are given; 'sharmā' (nominative) in the tarpana; 'sharmaṇe' (dative) in the giving of grain; and 'sharmaṇaḥ' (genitive) in the rite of the imperishable gift.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.225.11)

मातर्मात्रे तथा मातुरासने कल्पनेऽक्षये गोत्रे गोत्रायै गोत्रायाः प्रथमाद्या विभक्तयः

mātarmātre tathā māturāsane kalpane'kṣaye gotre gotrāyai gotrāyāḥ prathamādyā vibhaktayaḥ

'Mātaḥ' (vocative), 'mātre' (dative), and 'mātuḥ' (genitive) are likewise used for the seat, the appointment, and the imperishable gift for the mother. 'Gotre,' 'gotrāyai,' 'gotrāyāḥ' are the corresponding case-endings for the mother's gotra.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.225.12)

देवि देव्यै तथा देव्या एवं मातुश्च कीर्तयेत् प्रथमा च चतुर्थी च षष्ठी स्याच्छ्राद्धसिद्धये

devi devyai tathā devyā evaṁ mātuśca kīrtayet prathamā ca caturthī ca ṣaṣṭhī syācchrāddhasiddhaye

'Devi' (vocative), 'devyai' (dative), and 'devyāḥ' (genitive) should likewise be recited for the mother. The first (vocative), fourth (dative), and sixth (genitive) case-endings bring about the success of the shraddha.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.225.13)

विभक्तिरहितं श्राद्धं क्रियते वा विपर्ययात् अकृतं तद्विजानीयात्पितृणां नोपतिष्ठति

vibhaktirahitaṁ śrāddhaṁ kriyate vā viparyayāt akṛtaṁ tadvijānīyātpitṛṇāṁ nopatiṣṭhati

A shraddha performed without the correct case-endings, or with them reversed, should be known as not performed at all; it does not reach the ancestors.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.225.14)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ब्राह्मणेन विजानता विभक्तिभिर्यथोक्ताभिः श्राद्धे कार्यो विधिः सदा

tasmātsarvaprayatnena brāhmaṇena vijānatā vibhaktibhiryathoktābhiḥ śrāddhe kāryo vidhiḥ sadā

Therefore, with every effort, a brahmin who understands this should always perform the rite of the shraddha with the case-endings just as declared.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.225.15)

ततः सपिंडीकरणं वत्सरादूर्ध्वतः स्थितम् वृद्धिर्वाऽऽगामिनी चेत्स्यात्तदार्वागपि कारयेत्

tataḥ sapiṁḍīkaraṇaṁ vatsarādūrdhvataḥ sthitam vṛddhirvā''gāminī cetsyāttadārvāgapi kārayet

Thereafter, the sapindikarana is established as occurring after a year; but if an auspicious occasion is approaching, one may perform it even before that.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.225.16)

पार्वणोक्तविधानेन त्रिदैवत्यमदैविकम् प्रेतमुद्दिश्य कर्तव्यमेकोद्दिष्टं च पार्थिव

pārvaṇoktavidhānena tridaivatyamadaivikam pretamuddiśya kartavyamekoddiṣṭaṁ ca pārthiva

By the procedure declared for the parvana, but without the worship of the gods, the sapindikarana should be performed, directed to the preta, together with the ekoddishta, O king.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.225.17)

एकेनैव तु पाकेन मम चैतन्मतं स्मृतम् अर्घपात्रं समादाय यत्प्रेतार्थं प्रकल्पितम्

ekenaiva tu pākena mama caitanmataṁ smṛtam arghapātraṁ samādāya yatpretārthaṁ prakalpitam

With a single cooking alone — this is remembered as my own view. Taking up the arghya-vessel that has been prepared for the preta —

Verse 18 (skanda.6.225.18)

पितृपात्रेषु त्रिष्वेव त्रिधा तच्च परिक्षिपेत् एवं पिंडं त्रिधा कृत्वा पितृपिंडेषु च त्रिषु

pitṛpātreṣu triṣveva tridhā tacca parikṣipet evaṁ piṁḍaṁ tridhā kṛtvā pitṛpiṁḍeṣu ca triṣu

— one should pour it, divided in three, into the three ancestral vessels. Likewise, having divided the pinda into three, it should be placed upon the three ancestral pindas.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.225.19)

ये समानेति मन्त्राभ्यां न स्यात्प्रेतस्ततः परम् अवनेजनं ततः कृत्वा पितृपूर्वं यथाक्रमम्

ye samāneti mantrābhyāṁ na syātpretastataḥ param avanejanaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā pitṛpūrvaṁ yathākramam

With the two mantras beginning 'ye samānāḥ...,' he ceases thereafter to be merely a preta. Then, having performed the washing rite, the ancestors first, in due order —

Verse 20 (skanda.6.225.20)

गन्धधूपादिकं सर्वं पुनरेव प्रदापयेत् पितृपूर्वं समुच्चार्य वर्जयेच्च चतुर्थकम्

gandhadhūpādikaṁ sarvaṁ punareva pradāpayet pitṛpūrvaṁ samuccārya varjayecca caturthakam

— all the offerings of sandal, incense, and the rest should again be given, uttering the ancestors first, and omitting the fourth separate portion.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.225.21)

केचिच्चतुर्थं कुर्वंति प्रेतं च स्वपितुस्ततः पितुः पूर्वं भवेच्छ्राद्धं परं नैतन्मतं मम

keciccaturthaṁ kurvaṁti pretaṁ ca svapitustataḥ pituḥ pūrvaṁ bhavecchrāddhaṁ paraṁ naitanmataṁ mama

Some make a fourth portion for the preta, placed after their own father, so that the father's shraddha comes first — but this is not my view.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.225.22)

सपिण्डीकरणादूर्ध्वमेकोद्दिष्टं न कारयेत् क्षयाहं च परित्यज्य शस्त्राहत चतुर्दशीम्

sapiṇḍīkaraṇādūrdhvamekoddiṣṭaṁ na kārayet kṣayāhaṁ ca parityajya śastrāhata caturdaśīm

After the sapindikarana, the ekoddishta should not be performed — excepting the death-anniversary day, and the fourteenth day for those slain by weapons.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.225.23)

यः सपिण्डीकृतं प्रेतं पृथक्पिण्डे नियोजयेत् अकृतं तद्विजानीयात्पितृहा चोपजायते

yaḥ sapiṇḍīkṛtaṁ pretaṁ pṛthakpiṇḍe niyojayet akṛtaṁ tadvijānīyātpitṛhā copajāyate

Whoever engages a preta who has already been made sapindita in a separate pinda again — that act should be known as not performed at all, and he becomes, in effect, a slayer of his ancestors.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.225.24)

पिता यस्य तु निर्वृत्तो जीवते च पितामहः पितुः स नाम संकीर्त्य कीर्तयेत्प्रपितामहम्

pitā yasya tu nirvṛtto jīvate ca pitāmahaḥ pituḥ sa nāma saṁkīrtya kīrtayetprapitāmaham

One whose father has died, while his grandfather still lives — having uttered his father's name, he should in the ritual name the great-grandfather instead.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.225.25)

पितामहस्तु प्रत्यक्षं भुक्त्वा गृह्णाति पिण्डकम् पितामहक्षयाहे च पार्वणं श्राद्धमिष्यते

pitāmahastu pratyakṣaṁ bhuktvā gṛhṇāti piṇḍakam pitāmahakṣayāhe ca pārvaṇaṁ śrāddhamiṣyate

The living grandfather, having eaten in person, himself receives that pinda's honor. On the death-anniversary of the grandfather, the parvana shraddha is enjoined.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.225.26)

जनकं स्वं परित्यज्य कथंचिन्नास्य दीयते तस्याकृतेन श्राद्धेन न स्वल्पं पितृतो भयम्

janakaṁ svaṁ parityajya kathaṁcinnāsya dīyate tasyākṛtena śrāddhena na svalpaṁ pitṛto bhayam

One's own father should never, under any circumstance, be left out; if his shraddha is not performed, there is no small danger arising from the ancestors.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.225.27)

अमावास्यासु सर्वासु मृते पितरि पार्वणम् नभस्यापरपक्षस्य मध्ये चैतदुदाहृतम्

amāvāsyāsu sarvāsu mṛte pitari pārvaṇam nabhasyāparapakṣasya madhye caitadudāhṛtam

On every new-moon day, when the father has died, the parvana shraddha should be performed; and this is especially declared for the middle of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.225.28)

यावत्सपिंडता नैव न तावच्छ्राद्धमाचरेत्

yāvatsapiṁḍatā naiva na tāvacchrāddhamācaret

As long as the sapindikarana has not been performed, the ordinary parvana shraddha should not be performed.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.225.29)

जनके मृत्युमापन्ने श्राद्धपक्षे समागते पितामहादेः कर्तव्यं श्राद्धं यन्नैकपिंडता

janake mṛtyumāpanne śrāddhapakṣe samāgate pitāmahādeḥ kartavyaṁ śrāddhaṁ yannaikapiṁḍatā

If the father has died and the shraddha-fortnight arrives before the year is complete, the shraddha for the grandfather and the others should still be performed, since the single-pinda union has not yet taken place.