The Glory of Shraddha and Gift-giving in the Pilgrimage Rite

Verse 1 (skanda.7.378.1)

सारस्वत उवाच छित्त्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म मुक्तिमिच्छेच्छिवां ततः । इदं न शक्यते कर्त्तुं शुभं कार्यं तदा नरैः

sārasvata uvāca chittvā śubhāśubhaṁ karma muktimicchecchivāṁ tataḥ | idaṁ na śakyate karttuṁ śubhaṁ kāryaṁ tadā naraiḥ

Sarasvata said: Only by severing both good and bad karma should one desire auspicious liberation - yet this good deed cannot easily be accomplished by men.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.378.2)

उत्थायोत्थाय स्नातव्यं पूज्यौ हरिहरौ स्वयम् । सत्यं वाच्यं हितं कार्यं दानं देयं स्वशक्तितः

utthāyotthāya snātavyaṁ pūjyau hariharau svayam | satyaṁ vācyaṁ hitaṁ kāryaṁ dānaṁ deyaṁ svaśaktitaḥ

Rising each day, one should bathe; Hari and Hara should be worshipped in person; truth should be spoken, what is beneficial should be done, and gifts given according to one's ability.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.378.3)

परापवादभीरुत्वं परदारान्विवर्जयेत् । सुवर्णभूमिहरणब्रह्मदेवस्ववर्जनम्

parāpavādabhīrutvaṁ paradārānvivarjayet | suvarṇabhūmiharaṇabrahmadevasvavarjanam

One should hold a fearful dread of speaking ill of others, and should shun another's wife; one should refrain from seizing gold, land, or the wealth of brahmins and gods.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.378.4)

ब्राह्मणस्त्रीनरेंद्राणां बालवृद्धतपस्विनाम् । पितृमातृगुरूणां च नाप्रियं मनसा वदेत्

brāhmaṇastrīnareṁdrāṇāṁ bālavṛddhatapasvinām | pitṛmātṛgurūṇāṁ ca nāpriyaṁ manasā vadet

Of brahmins, women, kings, children, the aged, ascetics, and of father, mother, and teachers, one should not speak unpleasant words even in thought.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.378.5)

देशकालपरिज्ञानं पात्रापात्रविवेचनम् । छाया नृणां न वक्तव्या तक्राग्नींधनकांजिकम्

deśakālaparijñānaṁ pātrāpātravivecanam | chāyā nṛṇāṁ na vaktavyā takrāgnīṁdhanakāṁjikam

One should have knowledge of the proper place and time, and discern the worthy recipient from the unworthy; shade should never be denied to men, nor should buttermilk, fire, fuel, or sour gruel be refused.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.378.6)

औषधं शाकमर्थिभ्यो दातव्यं गृह मेधिभिः । एकादशीपंचदशीचतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च

auṣadhaṁ śākamarthibhyo dātavyaṁ gṛha medhibhiḥ | ekādaśīpaṁcadaśīcaturdaśyaṣṭamīṣu ca

Medicine and vegetables should be given to those in need by householders - especially on the eleventh, fifteenth, fourteenth, and eighth lunar days,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.378.7)

अमावास्याव्यतीपातसंक्रांतिग्रहणेषु च । वैधृते पितृमात्रोश्च क्षयाहदिवसेषु च

amāvāsyāvyatīpātasaṁkrāṁtigrahaṇeṣu ca | vaidhṛte pitṛmātrośca kṣayāhadivaseṣu ca

on the new-moon day, at vyatipata, at sankranti, at eclipses, at vaidhriti, on the death-anniversary of father or mother, and on kshaya-days.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.378.8)

युगादिमन्वादिदिने गृहे कार्यो महोत्सवः । तीर्थे वा गमनं कार्यं गृहाच्छतगुणं यतः

yugādimanvādidine gṛhe kāryo mahotsavaḥ | tīrthe vā gamanaṁ kāryaṁ gṛhācchataguṇaṁ yataḥ

On the days marking the start of a Yuga or a Manvantara, a great festival should be held at home, or a journey to a sacred ford undertaken, since the merit there is a hundredfold that at home.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.378.9)

इद्रियाणां जयः कार्यो मद्यं द्यूतं विवर्जयेत् । विवादं गमनं युद्धं गृही यत्नेन वर्जयेत्

idriyāṇāṁ jayaḥ kāryo madyaṁ dyūtaṁ vivarjayet | vivādaṁ gamanaṁ yuddhaṁ gṛhī yatnena varjayet

Mastery of the senses should be practised; liquor and gambling should be shunned; a householder should diligently avoid disputes, needless travel, and violence.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.378.10)

स्नानं दानं जपो होमो देवपूजा द्विजार्चनम् । अक्षयं जायते सर्वं विधिवच्चेद्भवेत्कृतम्

snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homo devapūjā dvijārcanam | akṣayaṁ jāyate sarvaṁ vidhivaccedbhavetkṛtam

Bathing, giving, recitation, fire-oblation, worship of the gods, and honouring brahmins - all of these bear imperishable fruit if performed according to the proper rule.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.378.11)

एकापि गौः प्रदातव्या वस्त्रालंकारभूषणा । दोग्ध्री सवत्सा तरुणी द्विजमुख्याय कल्पिता

ekāpi gauḥ pradātavyā vastrālaṁkārabhūṣaṇā | dogdhrī savatsā taruṇī dvijamukhyāya kalpitā

Even a single cow should be given, adorned with cloth and ornaments - a young, milk-giving cow with her calf, made ready as a gift for a foremost brahmin.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.378.12)

संप्राप्य भारतं खंडं मानुषं जन्म चोत्तमम् । धन्यो ददाति यो धेनुं स नरः सूर्यमण्डलम् । भित्त्वा याति विमानेन गम्यमानो गवादिभिः

saṁprāpya bhārataṁ khaṁḍaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma cottamam | dhanyo dadāti yo dhenuṁ sa naraḥ sūryamaṇḍalam | bhittvā yāti vimānena gamyamāno gavādibhiḥ

Having attained the land of Bharata-khanda and this excellent human birth, blessed is the man who gives a cow - he pierces through the orb of the sun and journeys on by celestial chariot, escorted by cattle.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.378.13)

सप्त जन्मानि पापानि कृत्वा पापीह चाधमः । एको ददाति यो धेनुं मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

sapta janmāni pāpāni kṛtvā pāpīha cādhamaḥ | eko dadāti yo dhenuṁ mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Even a base sinner who has committed sins through seven births - if he gives but a single cow, he is freed from all his sins.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.378.14)

यदा स नीयते बद्धो यममार्गेण किंकरैः । तदा नंदा समागत्य स्वं पुत्रमिव पश्यति

yadā sa nīyate baddho yamamārgeṇa kiṁkaraiḥ | tadā naṁdā samāgatya svaṁ putramiva paśyati

When he is led away bound, along Yama's path, by Yama's servants, then Nanda, the cow, comes there and looks upon him as her own son.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.378.15)

विजित्य हुंकृतेनैव तान्दूतान्दूरतः स्थितान् । गोप्रदं तं समादाय प्रयाति शिवमन्दिरम्

vijitya huṁkṛtenaiva tāndūtāndūrataḥ sthitān | gopradaṁ taṁ samādāya prayāti śivamandiram

Routing those messengers with a mere bellow, driving them far away, she takes that giver of the cow with her and sets off for Shiva's abode.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.378.16)

वृषो धर्म हति प्रोक्तो येन मुक्तः स मुच्यते । गोषु मध्ये पितॄन्सर्वान्हरमुद्दिश्य वा हरिम्

vṛṣo dharma hati prokto yena muktaḥ sa mucyate | goṣu madhye pitṝnsarvānharamuddiśya vā harim

The bull is declared to be Dharma incarnate; by giving it, a man is set free. Among cows, dedicating the rite to Hara or to Hari, one honours all one's ancestors -

Verse 17 (skanda.7.378.17)

सूर्यब्रह्मपुरे वासो जायते ब्रह्मवासरे । दृढं ककुद्मिनं संतं युवानं भारसाधनम्

sūryabrahmapure vāso jāyate brahmavāsare | dṛḍhaṁ kakudminaṁ saṁtaṁ yuvānaṁ bhārasādhanam

by this, dwelling in the Sun's Brahma-realm for a day of Brahma is attained. A strong, humped, young bull, capable of bearing loads -

Verse 18 (skanda.7.378.18)

हलक्षमं बलीवर्दं दत्त्वा विप्राय पर्वसु । तमारुह्य नरो याति गोलोकं शिवसंनिधौ

halakṣamaṁ balīvardaṁ dattvā viprāya parvasu | tamāruhya naro yāti golokaṁ śivasaṁnidhau

having given, on parvan days, a bullock fit for the plough to a brahmin, mounted upon it a man journeys to Goloka, into Shiva's presence.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.378.19)

अश्वं सास्तरणं दत्त्वा खलीनेन च संयुतम् । अश्वराजबलात्स्वर्गे मोदते ब्राह्मवासरम्

aśvaṁ sāstaraṇaṁ dattvā khalīnena ca saṁyutam | aśvarājabalātsvarge modate brāhmavāsaram

Having given a horse with its saddle-cloth and bridle, by the power of the king of horses one rejoices in heaven for a whole day of Brahma.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.378.20)

गजदानाद्गजेंद्रेण नीयते नंदनं वनम् । पृथिव्यां सागरांतायामेष राजा भविष्यति

gajadānādgajeṁdreṇa nīyate naṁdanaṁ vanam | pṛthivyāṁ sāgarāṁtāyāmeṣa rājā bhaviṣyati

By the gift of an elephant, one is carried by the lord of elephants to the Nandana grove; he shall become, thereafter, a king over the earth bounded by the ocean.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.378.21)

गृहं सोपस्करं दत्त्वा विप्राय गृहमेधिने । लभते नंदने दिव्यं विमानं सार्वकामिकम्

gṛhaṁ sopaskaraṁ dattvā viprāya gṛhamedhine | labhate naṁdane divyaṁ vimānaṁ sārvakāmikam

Having given a fully furnished house to a householder brahmin, one obtains in the Nandana grove a divine chariot that fulfils every desire.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.378.22)

द्रव्यं पृथिव्यां परमं सुवर्णं हृष्यंति देवा यदि दीयते ततः । सूर्योपि तस्मै रुचिरं विमानं ददाति तावद्भ्रमतेऽत्र यावत्

dravyaṁ pṛthivyāṁ paramaṁ suvarṇaṁ hṛṣyaṁti devā yadi dīyate tataḥ | sūryopi tasmai ruciraṁ vimānaṁ dadāti tāvadbhramate'tra yāvat

Gold is the supreme substance on earth; the gods rejoice when it is given. Then even the Sun grants him a resplendent celestial chariot, and he roams there for as long as the sun itself endures.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.378.23)

रौप्यं पितॄणामतिवल्लभं तद्दत्त्वा नरो निर्मलतामुपैति । सोमस्य लोकं लभते स तावद्भुवे निवद्धा ऋषयो हि यावत्

raupyaṁ pitṝṇāmativallabhaṁ taddattvā naro nirmalatāmupaiti | somasya lokaṁ labhate sa tāvadbhuve nivaddhā ṛṣayo hi yāvat

Silver is exceedingly dear to the ancestors; giving it, a man attains purity. He obtains the world of Soma, for as long as the sages remain bound to the earth.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.378.24)

श्रीखंडकर्पूरसमाकुलानि तांबूलरत्नादिफलानि दत्त्वा । पुष्पाणि वस्त्राणि सुखेन याति साकं शशांकं दिवि देववृंदैः ।

śrīkhaṁḍakarpūrasamākulāni tāṁbūlaratnādiphalāni dattvā | puṣpāṇi vastrāṇi sukhena yāti sākaṁ śaśāṁkaṁ divi devavṛṁdaiḥ |

Having given betel and other such fruits mingled with sandalwood and camphor, along with gems, flowers, and clothes, he journeys happily into the sky together with the Moon, amid hosts of gods.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.378.25)

तक्रोदकतैलघृतदुग्धेक्षुरसमधूनि यो दद्यात् । खर्जूरखंडद्राक्षावातामांजीरकैः साकम्

takrodakatailaghṛtadugdhekṣurasamadhūni yo dadyāt | kharjūrakhaṁḍadrākṣāvātāmāṁjīrakaiḥ sākam

He who gives buttermilk, water, oil, ghee, milk, sugarcane juice, and honey, together with dates, sugar-candy, grapes, almonds, and pomegranates -

Verse 26 (skanda.7.378.26)

दर्भाक्षतमृद्गोमयदूर्वायज्ञोपवीतानि । तिलचर्मसूर्यपिटकं दत्त्वा ख्यातश्चिरं स्वर्गे

darbhākṣatamṛdgomayadūrvāyajñopavītāni | tilacarmasūryapiṭakaṁ dattvā khyātaściraṁ svarge

having given kusha grass, unbroken rice, clay, cow-dung, durva grass, sacred threads, sesame, deerskin, and a sun-basket, he remains renowned in heaven for a long time.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.378.27)

आत्माहाराच्चतुर्भागं सिद्धान्नाद्यदि दीयते । हन्तकारः स तं दत्त्वा ध्रुवं याति ध्रुवालये ।

ātmāhārāccaturbhāgaṁ siddhānnādyadi dīyate | hantakāraḥ sa taṁ dattvā dhruvaṁ yāti dhruvālaye |

If a quarter portion of one's own cooked food is given away, then even one guilty of slaying, by giving it, surely goes to the abode of Dhruva.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.378.28)

आत्माहारप्रमाणेन प्रत्यहं गोषु दीयते । गवाह्निकं तासु दत्त्वा नरो याति सुरालयम्

ātmāhārapramāṇena pratyahaṁ goṣu dīyate | gavāhnikaṁ tāsu dattvā naro yāti surālayam

According to the measure of one's own food, giving daily fodder to cows - by giving them this daily portion, a man goes to the abode of the gods.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.378.29)

कंडनीपेषणीचुल्लीमार्जनीभिश्च यत्कृतम् । पापं गृही क्षालयति ददद्भिक्षां दिनं प्रति

kaṁḍanīpeṣaṇīcullīmārjanībhiśca yatkṛtam | pāpaṁ gṛhī kṣālayati dadadbhikṣāṁ dinaṁ prati

Whatever sin a householder incurs through the mortar and pestle, the grinding-stone, the hearth, and the broom, he washes it away by giving alms each day.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.378.30)

ग्रासमात्रा भवेद्भिक्षा सा नित्यं यत्र दीयते । तद्गृहं गृहमन्यच्च स्मशानमिव दृश्यते

grāsamātrā bhavedbhikṣā sā nityaṁ yatra dīyate | tadgṛhaṁ gṛhamanyacca smaśānamiva dṛśyate

That house where even a single mouthful of alms is given daily is a true home; every other house appears like a cremation ground.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.378.31)

कुम्भान्सोदकसिद्धान्नांश्छत्रोपानत्कमंडलुम् । अंगुलीयकवासांसि दत्त्वा याति नरो दिवि

kumbhānsodakasiddhānnāṁśchatropānatkamaṁḍalum | aṁgulīyakavāsāṁsi dattvā yāti naro divi

Having given water-filled pitchers, cooked food, an umbrella, sandals, a water-pot, a ring, and garments, a man goes to heaven.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.378.32)

श्रांतस्य यानं तृषितस्य पानमन्नं क्षुधार्त्तस्य नरो नरेन्द्र । दत्त्वा विमानेन सुरांगनाभिः संस्तूयमानस्त्रिदिवं स याति

śrāṁtasya yānaṁ tṛṣitasya pānamannaṁ kṣudhārttasya naro narendra | dattvā vimānena surāṁganābhiḥ saṁstūyamānastridivaṁ sa yāti

Giving a conveyance to the weary, drink to the thirsty, and food to the hungry, O lord of men, a man travels to the triple heaven by celestial chariot, praised by the women of the gods.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.378.33)

भोजनं सततं देयं यथाशक्त्या घृत प्लुतम् । तन्मया हि यतः प्राणा अतः पुष्यंति प्राणिनः

bhojanaṁ satataṁ deyaṁ yathāśaktyā ghṛta plutam | tanmayā hi yataḥ prāṇā ataḥ puṣyaṁti prāṇinaḥ

Food, drenched in ghee, should always be given according to one's means; for the life-breaths are made of that food - by it living beings are nourished.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.378.34)

क्षुत्पीडा महती लोके ह्यन्नं तद्भेषजं स्मृतम् । तेन सा शांतिमायाति ततोन्नं देयमुत्तमम्

kṣutpīḍā mahatī loke hyannaṁ tadbheṣajaṁ smṛtam | tena sā śāṁtimāyāti tatonnaṁ deyamuttamam

The affliction of hunger is a great one in this world, and food is declared to be its remedy. By it alone that affliction is calmed; therefore the gift of food is the most excellent gift.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.378.35)

अन्नं वस्त्रं फलं तोयं तक्रं शाकं घृतं मधु । पत्रं पुष्पं तथोपानत्कंथां यष्टिं कमंडलुम्

annaṁ vastraṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ takraṁ śākaṁ ghṛtaṁ madhu | patraṁ puṣpaṁ tathopānatkaṁthāṁ yaṣṭiṁ kamaṁḍalum

Food, clothing, fruit, water, buttermilk, vegetables, ghee, honey, leaves, flowers, as well as sandals, a patched garment, a staff, and a water-pot -

Verse 36 (skanda.7.378.36)

छत्रपात्रे व्रतं विद्या अक्षमाला सुरार्चनम् । कन्या कुशोपवीतानि बीजौषधगृहाणि च

chatrapātre vrataṁ vidyā akṣamālā surārcanam | kanyā kuśopavītāni bījauṣadhagṛhāṇi ca

an umbrella, a vessel, the teaching of vows, knowledge, a rosary, the implements of divine worship, a daughter in marriage, kusha grass, sacred threads, seeds, medicine, and houses -

Verse 37 (skanda.7.378.37)

सस्यं क्षेत्रं यज्ञपात्रं योगपट्टं च पादुके । कृष्णाजिनं बुद्धिदानं धर्मादेशकथानकम्

sasyaṁ kṣetraṁ yajñapātraṁ yogapaṭṭaṁ ca pāduke | kṛṣṇājinaṁ buddhidānaṁ dharmādeśakathānakam

grain, land, sacrificial vessels, a yogic strap, sandals, a black antelope skin, the gift of wisdom, and the recitation of dharma's precepts and tales -

Verse 38 (skanda.7.378.38)

अथैतत्संततं देयं तेन श्रेयो महद्भवेत् । सर्वपापक्षयं कृत्वा दाता याति शिवालयम्

athaitatsaṁtataṁ deyaṁ tena śreyo mahadbhavet | sarvapāpakṣayaṁ kṛtvā dātā yāti śivālayam

all these should be given continually; by this great welfare comes about. Having thereby destroyed all his sins, the giver goes to Shiva's abode.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.378.39)

श्राद्धे गृहस्था भोक्तव्याः कुलीना वेदपारगाः । अक्रोधनाः स्नानशीलाः स्वदेशाचारतत्पराः

śrāddhe gṛhasthā bhoktavyāḥ kulīnā vedapāragāḥ | akrodhanāḥ snānaśīlāḥ svadeśācāratatparāḥ

At the shraddha rite, householders should be fed who are well-born, learned in the Vedas, free from anger, devoted to bathing, and committed to the customs of their own region -

Verse 40 (skanda.7.378.40)

आमंत्र्य पूर्वदिवसे निरीहा अपि ये द्विजाः । अलोलुपा व्याधिहीना न तु ये ग्रामयाजिनः

āmaṁtrya pūrvadivase nirīhā api ye dvijāḥ | alolupā vyādhihīnā na tu ye grāmayājinaḥ

invited the previous day, brahmins who are free of worldly craving, without greed and without disease - but not those who officiate as village priests for hire.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.378.41)

तेषां पुरः प्रदातव्यं पिंडदानं विधानतः । श्राद्धं श्रद्धाविहीनेन कृतमप्यकृतं भवेत्

teṣāṁ puraḥ pradātavyaṁ piṁḍadānaṁ vidhānataḥ | śrāddhaṁ śraddhāvihīnena kṛtamapyakṛtaṁ bhavet

Before them the rice-ball offering should be duly made. A shraddha performed by one devoid of faith, even though performed, becomes as if it were never performed.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.378.42)

तस्माच्छ्रद्धान्वितैः श्राद्धं कर्त्तव्यं क्रोधवर्जितैः । वानप्रस्थो ब्रह्मचारी पथिकस्तीर्थसेवकः

tasmācchraddhānvitaiḥ śrāddhaṁ karttavyaṁ krodhavarjitaiḥ | vānaprastho brahmacārī pathikastīrthasevakaḥ

Therefore the shraddha should be performed only by those endowed with faith and free from anger. A forest-dweller, a celibate student, a traveller, a devotee frequenting sacred fords -

Verse 43 (skanda.7.378.43)

अतिथिर्वैश्वदेवांते स पूज्यः श्राद्धकर्मणि । सर्वदा यतयः पूज्याः स्वशक्त्या गृहमेधिभिः

atithirvaiśvadevāṁte sa pūjyaḥ śrāddhakarmaṇi | sarvadā yatayaḥ pūjyāḥ svaśaktyā gṛhamedhibhiḥ

and a guest arriving after the Vaishvadeva rite - these are to be honoured in the shraddha ceremony. Ascetics are always to be honoured, according to their ability, by householders.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.378.44)

यात्राविधिमथो वक्ष्ये सेतिहासं नृपोत्तम

yātrāvidhimatho vakṣye setihāsaṁ nṛpottama

Now, O best of kings, I shall tell the rule of the pilgrimage, together with its legend.