The Occasions for Shraddha and the Song of the Ancestors

Verse 1 (vishnu.3.14.1)

और्व उवाच ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रनासत्यसूर्याग्निवसुमारुतान् । विश्वेदेवान्पितृगणान्वयांसि मनुजान्पशून्

aurva uvāca brahmendrarudranāsatyasūryāgnivasumārutān viśvedevānpitṛgaṇānvayāṁsi manujānpaśūn

Aurva said: Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the Ashvins, Surya, Agni, the Vasus and the Maruts, the Vishvadevas, the ancestors, birds, men and beasts,

Verse 2 (vishnu.3.14.2)

सरीसृपानृषिगणान्यच्चान्यद्भूतसंज्ञितम् , श्राद्धं श्रद्धान्वितः कुर्वन्प्रीणयत्यखिलं जगत्

sarīsṛpānṛṣigaṇānyaccānyadbhūtasaṁjñitam , śrāddhaṁ śraddhānvitaḥ kurvanprīṇayatyakhilaṁ jagat

reptiles, hosts of sages, and whatever else is designated by the name 'being' -- one who, filled with faith, performs the shraddha, satisfies the entire universe.

Verse 3 (vishnu.3.14.3)

मासि मास्यसिते पक्षे पञ्चदश्यां नरेश्वर । तथाष्टकासु कुर्वीत काम्यान्कालाञ्छृणुष्व मे

māsi māsyasite pakṣe pañcadaśyāṁ nareśvara tathāṣṭakāsu kurvīta kāmyānkālāñchṛṇuṣva me

O lord of men, let him perform it in the dark fortnight of every month, on the fifteenth day, and likewise on the Ashtaka days; now hear from me also the optional occasions for it.

Verse 4 (vishnu.3.14.4)

श्राद्धार्हमागतं द्रव्यं विशिष्टमथ वा द्विजम् । श्राद्धं कुर्वीत विज्ञाय व्यतीपातेऽयने तथा

śrāddhārhamāgataṁ dravyaṁ viśiṣṭamatha vā dvijam śrāddhaṁ kurvīta vijñāya vyatīpāte'yane tathā

Whenever an object fit for shraddha comes to hand, or an eminent Brahmin arrives, and likewise at the Vyatipata conjunction or at a solstice, knowing this, let him perform the shraddha.

Verse 5 (vishnu.3.14.5)

विषुवे चापि सम्प्राप्ते ग्रहणे शशिसूर्ययोः । समस्तेष्वेव भूपाल राशिष्वर्के च गच्छति

viṣuve cāpi samprāpte grahaṇe śaśisūryayoḥ samasteṣveva bhūpāla rāśiṣvarke ca gacchati

O king, at the arrival of the equinox, at an eclipse of the moon or the sun, and likewise whenever the sun passes into any of the zodiacal signs.

Verse 6 (vishnu.3.14.6)

नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने । इच्छाश्राद्धानि कुर्वीत नवसस्यागमे तथा

nakṣatragrahapīḍāsu duṣṭasvapnāvalokane icchāśrāddhāni kurvīta navasasyāgame tathā

At times of affliction from constellations and planets, upon beholding an evil dream, and likewise at the coming of the new harvest -- these are occasions for the optional shraddha.

Verse 7 (vishnu.3.14.7)

अमावास्या यदा मैत्रविशाखास्वातियोगिनी । श्राद्धैः पितृगणस्तृप्तिं तथाप्नोत्यष्टवार्षिकीम्

amāvāsyā yadā maitraviśākhāsvātiyoginī śrāddhaiḥ pitṛgaṇastṛptiṁ tathāpnotyaṣṭavārṣikīm

When the new-moon day falls in conjunction with the Anuradha, Vishakha, or Svati constellation, by shraddhas the ancestors thereby attain a satisfaction lasting eight years.

Verse 8 (vishnu.3.14.8)

अमावास्या यदा पुष्ये रौद्रे चर्क्षे पुनर्वसौ । द्वादशाब्दं तदा तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति पितरोऽर्चिताः

amāvāsyā yadā puṣye raudre carkṣe punarvasau dvādaśābdaṁ tadā tṛptiṁ prayānti pitaro'rcitāḥ

When the new-moon day falls under the Pushya, Ardra, or Punarvasu constellation, then the ancestors, duly honored, attain a satisfaction of twelve years.

Verse 9 (vishnu.3.14.9)

वासवाजैकपादर्क्षे पितॄणां तृप्तिमिच्छताम् । वारुणे वाप्यमावास्या देवानामपि दुर्लभा

vāsavājaikapādarkṣe pitṝṇāṁ tṛptimicchatām vāruṇe vāpyamāvāsyā devānāmapi durlabhā

For the ancestors desiring satisfaction, under the Dhanishtha or Purva Bhadrapada constellation, and likewise the new-moon day occurring under the Shatabhisha (Varuna) constellation -- this too is held rare even for the gods.

Verse 10 (vishnu.3.14.10)

नवस्वृक्षेष्वमावास्या यदैतेष्ववनीपते । तदा हि तृप्तिदं श्राद्धं पितॄणां शृणु चापरम्

navasvṛkṣeṣvamāvāsyā yadaiteṣvavanīpate tadā hi tṛptidaṁ śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ śṛṇu cāparam

O protector of the earth, when the new-moon day falls under these nine constellations, the shraddha then performed is exceedingly satisfying to the ancestors; now hear of one more occasion.

Verse 11 (vishnu.3.14.11)

गीतं सनत्कुमारेण यथैलाय महात्मने । पृच्छते पितृभक्ताय प्रश्रयावनताय च

gītaṁ sanatkumāreṇa yathailāya mahātmane pṛcchate pitṛbhaktāya praśrayāvanatāya ca

That which was sung by Sanatkumara to the great-souled Ela, who, devoted to his ancestors and bowed down in humility, had asked of him.

Verse 12 (vishnu.3.14.12)

श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच वैशाखमासस्य च या तृतीया नवम्यसौ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्षे । नभस्य मासस्य च कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदशी पञ्चदशी च माघे

śrīsanatkumāra uvāca vaiśākhamāsasya ca yā tṛtīyā navamyasau kārttikaśuklapakṣe nabhasya māsasya ca kṛṣṇapakṣe trayodaśī pañcadaśī ca māghe

Sri Sanatkumara said: The third day of the month of Vaishakha; the ninth of the bright fortnight of Karttika; the thirteenth of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravana; and the fifteenth of Magha --

Verse 13 (vishnu.3.14.13)

एता युगाद्याः कथिताः पुराणेष्वनन्तपुण्यास्तिथयश्चतस्रः । उपप्लवे चन्द्रमसो रवेश्च त्रिष्वष्टकास्वप्ययनद्वये च

etā yugādyāḥ kathitāḥ purāṇeṣvanantapuṇyāstithayaścatasraḥ upaplave candramaso raveśca triṣvaṣṭakāsvapyayanadvaye ca

These four tithis, the beginnings of the Yugas, are declared in the Puranas to bear infinite merit; and likewise at a lunar or solar eclipse, on all three Ashtaka days, and at both solstices.

Verse 14 (vishnu.3.14.14)

पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः । श्राद्धं कृते तेन समासहस्रं रहस्यमेतत्पितरो वदन्ति

pānīyamapyatra tilairvimiśraṁ dadyātpitṛbhyaḥ prayato manuṣyaḥ śrāddhaṁ kṛte tena samāsahasraṁ rahasyametatpitaro vadanti

Here too, the self-controlled man should offer water mixed with sesame to the ancestors; a shraddha performed with this bears fruit for a thousand years -- this secret the ancestors themselves declare.

Verse 15 (vishnu.3.14.15)

माघेऽसिते पञ्चदशी कदाचिदुपैति योगं यदि वारुणेन । ऋक्षेण कालस्स परः पितॄणां न ह्यल्पपुण्यैर्नृप लभ्यतेऽसौ

māghe'site pañcadaśī kadācidupaiti yogaṁ yadi vāruṇena ṛkṣeṇa kālassa paraḥ pitṝṇāṁ na hyalpapuṇyairnṛpa labhyate'sau

When the fifteenth of the dark fortnight of Magha sometimes comes into conjunction with the Shatabhisha constellation, that is the supreme time for the ancestors; O king, this is not attained by those of little merit.

Verse 16 (vishnu.3.14.16)

काले धनिष्ठा यदि नाम तस्मिन्भवेत्तु भूपाल तदा पितृभ्यः । दत्तं जलान्नं प्रददाति तृप्तिं वर्षायुतं तत्कुलजैर्मनुष्यैः

kāle dhaniṣṭhā yadi nāma tasminbhavettu bhūpāla tadā pitṛbhyaḥ dattaṁ jalānnaṁ pradadāti tṛptiṁ varṣāyutaṁ tatkulajairmanuṣyaiḥ

O king, if the Dhanishtha constellation also occurs at that time, then water and food given to the ancestors bestows satisfaction for ten thousand years upon the men born in that lineage.

Verse 17 (vishnu.3.14.17)

तत्रैव चेद्भाद्रपदा नु पूर्वाः काले यथावत्क्रियते पितृभ्यः । श्राद्धं परां तृप्तिमुपेत्य तेन युगं सहस्रं पितरस्स्वपन्ति

tatraiva cedbhādrapadā nu pūrvāḥ kāle yathāvatkriyate pitṛbhyaḥ śrāddhaṁ parāṁ tṛptimupetya tena yugaṁ sahasraṁ pitarassvapanti

And if, at that very time, under the Purva Bhadrapada constellation, the shraddha is duly performed for the ancestors, then, having attained supreme satisfaction, the ancestors sleep in peace for a thousand yugas.

Verse 18 (vishnu.3.14.18)

गंगां शतद्रूं यमुनां विपाशां सरस्वतीं नैमिशगोमतीं वा । तत्रावगाह्यार्चनमादरेण कृत्वा पितॄणां दुरितानि हन्ति

gaṁgāṁ śatadrūṁ yamunāṁ vipāśāṁ sarasvatīṁ naimiśagomatīṁ vā tatrāvagāhyārcanamādareṇa kṛtvā pitṝṇāṁ duritāni hanti

Bathing in the Ganga, the Shatadru, the Yamuna, the Vipasha, the Sarasvati, or the Gomati at Naimisha, and performing worship there with reverence, destroys the sins of the ancestors.

Verse 19 (vishnu.3.14.19)

गायन्ति चैतत्पितरः कदानु हर्षादमी तृप्तिमवाप्य भूयः । माघासितांते शुभतीर्थतोयैर्यास्याम तृप्तिं तनयादिदत्तैः

gāyanti caitatpitaraḥ kadānu harṣādamī tṛptimavāpya bhūyaḥ māghāsitāṁte śubhatīrthatoyairyāsyāma tṛptiṁ tanayādidattaiḥ

'When indeed, with joy, having again attained satisfaction, shall we sing this -- that at the end of the dark fortnight of Magha, by the waters of a sacred ford given by our sons and descendants, we shall attain satisfaction?' -- thus the ancestors sing.

Verse 20 (vishnu.3.14.20)

चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां विशुद्धं शस्तश्च कालः कथितो विधिश्च । पात्रं यथोक्तं परमा च भक्तिर्नृणां प्रयच्छन्त्यभिवाञ्छितानि

cittaṁ ca vittaṁ ca nṛṇāṁ viśuddhaṁ śastaśca kālaḥ kathito vidhiśca pātraṁ yathoktaṁ paramā ca bhaktirnṛṇāṁ prayacchantyabhivāñchitāni

Men's purified mind and wealth, the praiseworthy time and procedure as declared, a worthy recipient as prescribed, and supreme devotion -- these bestow upon men their heart's desires.

Verse 21 (vishnu.3.14.21)

पितृगीतान्तथैवात्र श्लोकांस्ताञ्छृणु पार्थिव । श्रुत्वा तथैव भवता भाव्यं तत्रादृतात्मना

pitṛgītāntathaivātra ślokāṁstāñchṛṇu pārthiva śrutvā tathaiva bhavatā bhāvyaṁ tatrādṛtātmanā

Likewise, hear from me here also the verses of the Song of the Ancestors, O king; and having heard them, you too should conduct yourself accordingly, with a reverent heart.

Verse 22 (vishnu.3.14.22)

अपि धन्यः कुले जायादस्माकं मतिमान्नरः । अकुर्वन्वित्तशाठ्यं यः पिण्डान्नो निर्वपिष्यति

api dhanyaḥ kule jāyādasmākaṁ matimānnaraḥ akurvanvittaśāṭhyaṁ yaḥ piṇḍānno nirvapiṣyati

'Will there be born, blessed, in our lineage, some intelligent man who, without avarice concerning his wealth, will offer rice-balls unto us?

Verse 23 (vishnu.3.14.23)

रत्नं वस्त्रं महायानं सर्वभोगादिकं वसु । विभवे सति विप्रेभ्यो योऽस्मानुद्दिश्य दास्यति

ratnaṁ vastraṁ mahāyānaṁ sarvabhogādikaṁ vasu vibhave sati viprebhyo yo'smānuddiśya dāsyati

who, when prosperous, will give jewels, garments, a great vehicle, and wealth together with every enjoyment, to Brahmins, with us in mind,

Verse 24 (vishnu.3.14.24)

अन्नेन वा यथाशक्त्या कालेऽस्मिन्भक्तिनम्रधीः । भोजयिष्यति विप्राग्र्यांस्तन्मात्रविभवो नरः

annena vā yathāśaktyā kāle'sminbhaktinamradhīḥ bhojayiṣyati viprāgryāṁstanmātravibhavo naraḥ

or who, according to his means on this occasion, his mind humbled with devotion, will feed eminent Brahmins with food alone, that man, however limited his means may be?

Verse 25 (vishnu.3.14.25)

असमर्थोऽन्नदानस्य धान्यमामं स्वशक्तितः । प्रदास्यति द्विजाग्रेभ्यः स्वल्पाल्पां वापि दक्षिणाम्

asamartho'nnadānasya dhānyamāmaṁ svaśaktitaḥ pradāsyati dvijāgrebhyaḥ svalpālpāṁ vāpi dakṣiṇām

He who is unable to give food will, according to his means, give raw grain to eminent Brahmins, or else give even the smallest of gifts.

Verse 26 (vishnu.3.14.26)

तत्राप्यसामर्थ्ययुतः कराग्राग्रस्थितांस्तिलान् । प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्याय कस्मैचिद्भूप दास्यति

tatrāpyasāmarthyayutaḥ karāgrāgrasthitāṁstilān praṇamya dvijamukhyāya kasmaicidbhūpa dāsyati

And if he is unable even in that, then, O king, will he give, bowing to some eminent Brahmin, mere sesame seeds held on the tip of his fingers?

Verse 27 (vishnu.3.14.27)

तिलैस्सप्ताष्टभिर्वापि समवेतं जलाञ्जलिम् । भक्तिनम्रस्स्मुद्दिश्य भुव्यस्माकं प्रदास्यति

tilaissaptāṣṭabhirvāpi samavetaṁ jalāñjalim bhaktinamrassmuddiśya bhuvyasmākaṁ pradāsyati

Or will he, humbled with devotion, offer upon the earth, with us in mind, a handful of water together with seven or eight sesame seeds?

Verse 28 (vishnu.3.14.28)

यतः कुतश्चित्सम्प्राप्य गोभ्यो वापि गवाह्निकम् । अभावे प्रीणयन्नस्माञ्च्छ्रद्धायुक्तः प्रदास्यति

yataḥ kutaścitsamprāpya gobhyo vāpi gavāhnikam abhāve prīṇayannasmāñcchraddhāyuktaḥ pradāsyati

Or, obtaining something from anywhere at all, or from the produce of cows, will he, filled with faith, satisfy us in our want with even that much?

Verse 29 (vishnu.3.14.29)

सर्वाभावे वनं गत्वा कक्षमूलप्रदर्शकः । सूर्यादिलोकपालानामिदमुच्चैर्वदिष्यति

sarvābhāve vanaṁ gatvā kakṣamūlapradarśakaḥ sūryādilokapālānāmidamuccairvadiṣyati

Or, if even all of this is impossible, will he go to the forest, and, showing the hollow of his armpits, cry out aloud to the Sun and the other guardians of the world --

Verse 30 (vishnu.3.14.30)

न मेऽस्ति वित्तं न धनं च नान्यच्छ्राद्धोपयोग्यं स्वपितॄन्नतोऽस्मि । तृप्यन्तु भक्त्या पितरो मयैतौ कृतौ भुजौ वर्त्मनि मारुतस्य

na me'sti vittaṁ na dhanaṁ ca nānyacchrāddhopayogyaṁ svapitṝnnato'smi tṛpyantu bhaktyā pitaro mayaitau kṛtau bhujau vartmani mārutasya

'I have neither wealth nor property, nor anything else fit for a shraddha; I bow to my ancestors. O ancestors, may you be satisfied, out of devotion, by these two arms of mine, raised toward the pathway of the wind.'

Verse 31 (vishnu.3.14.31)

और्व उवाच इत्येतत् पितृभिर्गीतं भावाभावप्रयोजनम् । यः करोति कृतं तेन श्राद्धं भवति पार्थिव

aurva uvāca ityetat pitṛbhirgītaṁ bhāvābhāvaprayojanam yaḥ karoti kṛtaṁ tena śrāddhaṁ bhavati pārthiva

Aurva said: Thus this is the song sung by the ancestors themselves, declaring the purpose whether the means be present or absent; whoever acts accordingly -- by him, whatever is done becomes itself a shraddha, O king.