Funeral Rites and the Shraddha for the Newly Dead

Verse 1 (vishnu.3.13.1)

और्व उवाच सचैलस्य पितुः स्नानं जाते पुत्रे विधीयते । जातकर्म तदा कुर्याच्छ्राद्धमभ्युदये च यत्

aurva uvāca sacailasya pituḥ snānaṁ jāte putre vidhīyate jātakarma tadā kuryācchrāddhamabhyudaye ca yat

Aurva said: Upon the birth of a son, a bath with one's clothes on is prescribed for the father; then let him perform the birth-rite, and also the auspicious (abhyudaya) shraddha that is required.

Verse 2 (vishnu.3.13.2)

युग्मान् देवांश्च पित्र्यांश्च सम्यक् सव्यक्रमाद्द्विजान् । पूजयेद्भोजयेच्चैव तन्मना नान्यमानसः

yugmān devāṁśca pitryāṁśca samyak savyakramāddvijān pūjayedbhojayeccaiva tanmanā nānyamānasaḥ

Let him duly worship and feed pairs of gods and ancestors, and Brahmins as well, in due order from the left, with a single-pointed mind, letting it wander nowhere else.

Verse 3 (vishnu.3.13.3)

दध्यक्षतैस्सबदरैः प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखोऽपि वा । देवतीर्थेन वै पिण्डान् दद्यात् कायेन वा नृप

dadhyakṣataissabadaraiḥ prāṅmukhodaṅmukho'pi vā devatīrthena vai piṇḍān dadyāt kāyena vā nṛpa

With curd and unbroken rice, together with jujube fruit, facing east or north, let him offer the rice-balls by the divine part of the hand, or by the body itself, O king.

Verse 4 (vishnu.3.13.4)

नान्दीमुखः पितृगणस्तेन श्राद्धेन पार्थिव । प्रीयते तत्तु कर्त्तव्यं पुरुषैस्सर्ववृद्धिषु

nāndīmukhaḥ pitṛgaṇastena śrāddhena pārthiva prīyate tattu karttavyaṁ puruṣaissarvavṛddhiṣu

O king, by this shraddha the Nandimukha ancestors are pleased; this is to be performed by men on all occasions of auspicious increase.

Verse 5 (vishnu.3.13.5)

कन्यापुत्रविवाहेषु प्रवेशे नववेश्मनः । नामकर्मणि बालानां चूडाकर्मादिके तथा

kanyāputravivāheṣu praveśe navaveśmanaḥ nāmakarmaṇi bālānāṁ cūḍākarmādike tathā

At the marriage of a daughter or son, at the entry into a new house, at the naming-ceremony of children, and likewise at the tonsure-rite and the rest,

Verse 6 (vishnu.3.13.6)

सीमन्तोन्नयने चैव पुत्रादिमुखदर्शने । नान्दीमुखं पितृगणं पूजयेत् प्रयतो गृही

sīmantonnayane caiva putrādimukhadarśane nāndīmukhaṁ pitṛgaṇaṁ pūjayet prayato gṛhī

and at the parting-of-the-hair ceremony, and likewise on the occasion of first beholding a son's face -- let the disciplined householder worship the Nandimukha ancestors.

Verse 7 (vishnu.3.13.7)

पितृपूजाक्रमः प्रोक्तो वृद्धावेष सनातनः । श्रूयतामवनीपाल प्रेतकर्मक्रियाविधिः

pitṛpūjākramaḥ prokto vṛddhāveṣa sanātanaḥ śrūyatāmavanīpāla pretakarmakriyāvidhiḥ

This eternal order of ancestor-worship has been declared for these occasions of increase. Now, O protector of the earth, hear the procedure for the rites of the dead.

Verse 8 (vishnu.3.13.8)

प्रेतदेहं शुभैः स्नानैस्स्नापितं स्रग्विभूषितम् । दग्ध्वा ग्रामाद्बहिः स्नात्वा सचैलस्सलिलाशये

pretadehaṁ śubhaiḥ snānaissnāpitaṁ sragvibhūṣitam dagdhvā grāmādbahiḥ snātvā sacailassalilāśaye

Having bathed the corpse with auspicious ablutions and adorned it with garlands, and having cremated it outside the village, and having bathed, clothes and all, in a body of water,

Verse 9 (vishnu.3.13.9)

यत्र तत्र स्थितायैतदमुकायेति वादिनः । दक्षिणाभिमुखा दद्युर्बान्धवास्सलिलाञ्जलीन्

yatra tatra sthitāyaitadamukāyeti vādinaḥ dakṣiṇābhimukhā dadyurbāndhavāssalilāñjalīn

wherever that soul may be, saying 'this is for so-and-so,' let the kinsmen, facing south, offer an offering of water.

Verse 10 (vishnu.3.13.10)

प्रविष्टाश्च समं गोभिर्ग्रामं नक्षत्रदर्शने । कटकर्म ततः कुर्युर्भूमौ प्रस्तरशायिनः

praviṣṭāśca samaṁ gobhirgrāmaṁ nakṣatradarśane kaṭakarma tataḥ kuryurbhūmau prastaraśāyinaḥ

Having entered the village together with cattle, when the stars have appeared, let them then perform the rites of the mourning-mat, sleeping upon a stone spread on the ground.

Verse 11 (vishnu.3.13.11)

दातव्योऽनुदिनं पिण्डः प्रेताय भुवि पार्थिव । दिवा च भक्तं भोक्तव्यममांसं मनुजर्षभ

dātavyo'nudinaṁ piṇḍaḥ pretāya bhuvi pārthiva divā ca bhaktaṁ bhoktavyamamāṁsaṁ manujarṣabha

O king, a rice-ball should be given daily to the departed upon the earth; and, O bull among men, only meatless food should be eaten by day.

Verse 12 (vishnu.3.13.12)

दिनानि तानि चेच्छातः कर्त्तव्यं विप्रभोजनम् । प्रेता यान्ति तथा तृप्तिं बन्धुवर्गेण भुञ्जता

dināni tāni cecchātaḥ karttavyaṁ viprabhojanam pretā yānti tathā tṛptiṁ bandhuvargeṇa bhuñjatā

During these days, the feeding of Brahmins should be performed as one wishes; by the group of kinsmen eating together, the departed one likewise attains satisfaction.

Verse 13 (vishnu.3.13.13)

प्रथमेऽह्नि तृतीये च सप्तमे नवमे तथा । वस्त्रत्यागबहिस्स्नाने कृत्वा दद्यात्तिलोदकम्

prathame'hni tṛtīye ca saptame navame tathā vastratyāgabahissnāne kṛtvā dadyāttilodakam

On the first day, the third, the seventh, and likewise the ninth, having discarded one's garments and bathed outside, water mixed with sesame should be offered.

Verse 14 (vishnu.3.13.14)

चतुर्थेऽह्नि च कर्त्तव्यं तस्यास्थिचयनं नृप । तदूर्ध्वमङ्गसंस्पर्शः सपिण्डानामपीष्यते

caturthe'hni ca karttavyaṁ tasyāsthicayanaṁ nṛpa tadūrdhvamaṅgasaṁsparśaḥ sapiṇḍānāmapīṣyate

O king, on the fourth day the gathering of the bones should be performed; after that, the touching of the body by the sapindas (those bound by the same rice-ball offering) is also permitted.

Verse 15 (vishnu.3.13.15)

योग्यास्सर्वक्रियाणां तु समानसलिलास्तथा । अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगादन्यत्र पार्थिव

yogyāssarvakriyāṇāṁ tu samānasalilāstathā anulepanapuṣpādibhogādanyatra pārthiva

They become fit for all rites, and likewise for the status of samanodaka relations; except, O king, for the enjoyment of unguents, flowers, and the like.

Verse 16 (vishnu.3.13.16)

शय्यासनोपभोगश्च सपिण्डानामपीष्यते । भस्मास्थिचयनादूर्ध्वं संयोगो न तु योषिताम्

śayyāsanopabhogaśca sapiṇḍānāmapīṣyate bhasmāsthicayanādūrdhvaṁ saṁyogo na tu yoṣitām

The use of a bed and a seat is also permitted to the sapindas; but union with women is not permitted after the gathering of the bones and ashes.

Verse 17 (vishnu.3.13.17)

बाले देशान्तरस्थे च पतिते च मुनौ मृते । सद्यश्शौचं तथेच्छातो जलाग्न्युद्बन्धनादिषु

bāle deśāntarasthe ca patite ca munau mṛte sadyaśśaucaṁ tathecchāto jalāgnyudbandhanādiṣu

In the case of the death of a child, of one abroad, of a fallen person, or of an ascetic sage, and likewise in death by water, fire, or hanging, immediate purification is optional.

Verse 18 (vishnu.3.13.18)

मृतबन्धोर्दशाहानि कुलस्यान्नं न भुज्यते । दानं प्रतिग्रहो होमः स्वाध्यायश्च निवर्तते

mṛtabandhordaśāhāni kulasyānnaṁ na bhujyate dānaṁ pratigraho homaḥ svādhyāyaśca nivartate

For ten days after the death of a kinsman, the food of the family is not eaten; giving, receiving gifts, the fire-oblation, and the study of scripture are also suspended during that time.

Verse 19 (vishnu.3.13.19)

विप्रस्यैतद् द्वादशाहं राजन्यस्याप्यशौचकम् । अर्धमासं तु वैश्यस्य मासं शूद्रस्य शुद्धये

viprasyaitad dvādaśāhaṁ rājanyasyāpyaśaucakam ardhamāsaṁ tu vaiśyasya māsaṁ śūdrasya śuddhaye

For a Brahmin, this impurity lasts twelve days, and likewise for a Kshatriya [its own period]; for a Vaishya, half a month; and for a Shudra, a full month, for purification.

Verse 20 (vishnu.3.13.20)

अयुजो भोजयेत् कामं द्विजानन्ते ततो दिने । दद्याद्दर्भेषु पिण्डं च प्रेतायोच्छिष्टसन्निधौ

ayujo bhojayet kāmaṁ dvijānante tato dine dadyāddarbheṣu piṇḍaṁ ca pretāyocchiṣṭasannidhau

On odd-numbered days, let him feed Brahmins as he wishes, and then, on the final day, upon kusha grass, near the remains of the meal, offer a rice-ball for the departed.

Verse 21 (vishnu.3.13.21)

वार्यायुधप्रतोदास्तु दण्डश्च द्विजभोजनात् । स्प्रष्टव्योऽनन्तरं वर्णैः शुद्धेरन्ते ततः क्रमात्

vāryāyudhapratodāstu daṇḍaśca dvijabhojanāt spraṣṭavyo'nantaraṁ varṇaiḥ śuddherante tataḥ kramāt

Water, a weapon, a goad, and a staff -- these should be touched by the varnas, in due order, after the feeding of Brahmins, at the completion of the period of impurity.

Verse 22 (vishnu.3.13.22)

ततस्स्ववर्णधर्मा ये विप्रादीनामुदाहृताः । तान् कुर्वीत पुमाञ्जीवेन्निजधर्मार्जनैस्तथा

tatassvavarṇadharmā ye viprādīnāmudāhṛtāḥ tān kurvīta pumāñjīvennijadharmārjanaistathā

Then let a man perform those duties which have been declared to belong to his own varna, among Brahmins and the rest, and let him live by earnings gained according to his own proper duty.

Verse 23 (vishnu.3.13.23)

मृताहनि च कर्तव्यमेकोद्दिष्टमतः परम् । आह्वानादिक्रियादैवनियोगरहितं हि तत्

mṛtāhani ca kartavyamekoddiṣṭamataḥ param āhvānādikriyādaivaniyogarahitaṁ hi tat

From the day of death onward, the 'Ekoddishta' shraddha should be performed, which is devoid of the invocation and similar rites, and of any assignment to the gods.

Verse 24 (vishnu.3.13.24)

एकोर्घ्यस्तत्र दातव्यस्तथैवैकपवित्रकम् प्रेताय पिंडो दातव्यो भुक्तवत्सु द्विजातिषु

ekorghyastatra dātavyastathaivaikapavitrakam pretāya piṁḍo dātavyo bhuktavatsu dvijātiṣu

There, a single offering of water should be given, and likewise a single sacred grass-ring; and once the Brahmins have eaten, a rice-ball should be given for the departed.

Verse 25 (vishnu.3.13.25)

प्रश्नश्च तत्राभिरतिर्यजमानद्विजन्मनाम् अक्षय्यममुकस्येति वक्तव्यं विरतौ तथा

praśnaśca tatrābhiratiryajamānadvijanmanām akṣayyamamukasyeti vaktavyaṁ viratau tathā

There too, the exchange of question and answer between the sacrificer and the Brahmins is pleasing; and at the conclusion, one should say, 'may this be imperishable for so-and-so.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.3.13.26)

एकोद्दिष्टमयो धर्म इत्थमावत्सरात्स्मृतः सपिंडीकरणं तस्मिन्काले राजेंद्र तच्छृणु

ekoddiṣṭamayo dharma itthamāvatsarātsmṛtaḥ sapiṁḍīkaraṇaṁ tasminkāle rājeṁdra tacchṛṇu

Thus the rite consisting chiefly of the Ekoddishta shraddha is remembered as lasting for one year; hear now, O king of kings, of the time of Sapindikarana that follows.

Verse 27 (vishnu.3.13.27)

एकोद्दिष्टविधानेन कार्यं तदपि पार्थिव संवत्सरेथ षष्ठे वा मासे वा द्वादशेऽह्नि तत्

ekoddiṣṭavidhānena kāryaṁ tadapi pārthiva saṁvatsaretha ṣaṣṭhe vā māse vā dvādaśe'hni tat

That too should be performed by the Ekoddishta procedure, O king -- when the year is complete, or in the sixth month, or in a [given] month, or indeed on the twelfth day.

Verse 28 (vishnu.3.13.28)

तिलगंधोदकैर्युक्तं तत्र पात्रचतुष्टयम्

tilagaṁdhodakairyuktaṁ tatra pātracatuṣṭayam

There, four vessels filled with water mixed with sesame and fragrance are set out.

Verse 29 (vishnu.3.13.29)

पात्रं प्रेतस्य तत्रैकं पैत्रं पात्रत्रयं तथा सेचयेत्पितृपात्रेषु प्रेतपात्रं ततस्त्रिषु

pātraṁ pretasya tatraikaṁ paitraṁ pātratrayaṁ tathā secayetpitṛpātreṣu pretapātraṁ tatastriṣu

Of these, one vessel is for the departed, and three are for the ancestors; then, O king, the vessel of the departed is poured into the three vessels of the ancestors.

Verse 30 (vishnu.3.13.30)

ततः पितृत्वमापन्ने तस्मिन्प्रेते महीपते श्राद्धधर्मैरशेषैस्तु तत्पूर्वानर्चयेत्पितॄन्

tataḥ pitṛtvamāpanne tasminprete mahīpate śrāddhadharmairaśeṣaistu tatpūrvānarcayetpitṝn

O lord of the earth, once that departed one has attained the state of an ancestor, placing him first, the ancestors should be worshipped with all the rites of shraddha.

Verse 31 (vishnu.3.13.31)

पुत्रः पौत्रः प्रपौत्रो वा भ्राता वा भ्रातृसंततिः सपिंड संततिर्वापि क्रियार्हो नृप जायते

putraḥ pautraḥ prapautro vā bhrātā vā bhrātṛsaṁtatiḥ sapiṁḍa saṁtatirvāpi kriyārho nṛpa jāyate

A son, grandson, or great-grandson, or a brother or a brother's descendant, or even a sapinda descendant -- these, O king, are qualified to perform this rite.

Verse 32 (vishnu.3.13.32)

तेषामभावे सर्वेषां समानोदकसंततिः मातृपक्षस्य पिंडेन संबद्धा ये जलेन वा

teṣāmabhāve sarveṣāṁ samānodakasaṁtatiḥ mātṛpakṣasya piṁḍena saṁbaddhā ye jalena vā

In the absence of all of these, descendants related by the offering of water alone become qualified; and likewise, from the maternal side, whoever are connected by the rice-ball or by water.

Verse 33 (vishnu.3.13.33)

कुलद्वयेपि चोच्छिन्ने स्त्रीभिः कार्याः क्रिया नृप पितृमातृसपिंडैस्तु समानसलिलैस्तथा

kuladvayepi cocchinne strībhiḥ kāryāḥ kriyā nṛpa pitṛmātṛsapiṁḍaistu samānasalilaistathā

O king, when even both these families are without such relations, the rite should be performed by women themselves; and likewise by the sapindas of the father's and mother's side who share the same water-libation,

Verse 34 (vishnu.3.13.34)

संघातांतर्गतैर्वापि कार्याः प्रेतस्य च क्रियाः उत्सन्नबंधुरिक्थाद्वा कारयेदवनीपतिः

saṁghātāṁtargatairvāpi kāryāḥ pretasya ca kriyāḥ utsannabaṁdhurikthādvā kārayedavanīpatiḥ

or the rites of the departed may be performed by relations falling within the same group; and for one whose kinsmen and property have both perished, the king himself should have it performed.

Verse 35 (vishnu.3.13.35)

पूर्वाः क्रिया मध्यमाश्च तथा चैवोत्तराः क्रियाः त्रिःप्रकाराः क्रियास्सर्वास्तासां भेदं शृणुष्व मे

pūrvāḥ kriyā madhyamāśca tathā caivottarāḥ kriyāḥ triḥprakārāḥ kriyāssarvāstāsāṁ bhedaṁ śṛṇuṣva me

The prior rites, the intermediate rites, and likewise the posterior rites -- rites are of three kinds; now hear from me their distinction.

Verse 36 (vishnu.3.13.36)

आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यंतास्तु याः क्रियाः ताः पूर्वा मध्यमा मासि मास्येकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताः

ādāhavāryāyudhādisparśādyaṁtāstu yāḥ kriyāḥ tāḥ pūrvā madhyamā māsi māsyekoddiṣṭasaṁjñitāḥ

Those rites which extend from the cremation up to the touching of water, weapons, and the like are the 'prior' rites; the intermediate ones are those known, month by month, by the name Ekoddishta.

Verse 37 (vishnu.3.13.37)

प्रेते पितृत्वमापन्ने सपिंडिकरणादनु क्रियंते याः क्रियाः पित्र्याः प्रोच्यंते ता नृपोत्तराः

prete pitṛtvamāpanne sapiṁḍikaraṇādanu kriyaṁte yāḥ kriyāḥ pitryāḥ procyaṁte tā nṛpottarāḥ

O king, once the departed has attained the state of an ancestor, whatever ancestral rites are performed after the Sapindikarana are called the 'posterior' rites.

Verse 38 (vishnu.3.13.38)

पितृमातृसपिण्डैस्तु समानसलिलैस्तथा । सङ्घातान्तर्गतैर्वापि राज्ञा तद्धनहारिणा

pitṛmātṛsapiṇḍaistu samānasalilaistathā saṅghātāntargatairvāpi rājñā taddhanahāriṇā

By the sapindas of father and mother, who share the same water-libation, or by relations falling within the same group, or even by the king who has taken his property,

Verse 39 (vishnu.3.13.39)

पूर्वाः क्रियाश्च कर्त्तव्याः पुत्राद्यैरेव चोत्तराः । दौहित्रैर्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ कार्यास्तत्तनयैस्तथा

pūrvāḥ kriyāśca karttavyāḥ putrādyaireva cottarāḥ dauhitrairvā nṛpaśreṣṭha kāryāstattanayaistathā

the prior rites should be performed; and the posterior rites likewise should be performed only by the son and the rest; O best of kings, or by a daughter's son, or even by his sons in turn.

Verse 40 (vishnu.3.13.40)

मृताहनि च कर्त्तव्याः स्त्रीणामप्युत्तराः क्रियाः । प्रतिसंवत्सरं राजन्नेकोद्दिष्टविधानतः

mṛtāhani ca karttavyāḥ strīṇāmapyuttarāḥ kriyāḥ pratisaṁvatsaraṁ rājannekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ

On the very day of death, the posterior rites for women too should be performed; and, O king, likewise every year by the Ekoddishta procedure.

Verse 41 (vishnu.3.13.41)

तस्मादुत्तरसंज्ञायाः क्रियास्ताः शृणु पार्थिव । यथा यथा च कर्त्तव्या विधिना येन चानघ

tasmāduttarasaṁjñāyāḥ kriyāstāḥ śṛṇu pārthiva yathā yathā ca karttavyā vidhinā yena cānagha

Therefore, O king, now hear of those rites called 'posterior,' and, O sinless one, hear also by what procedure and at what times each should be performed.