13.087
श्राद्धकल्पः
The procedure for the funeral rite.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य धर्मात्मन्धर्मः प्रोक्तस्त्वयानघ। तथैव मे श्राद्धविधिं कृत्स्नं प्रब्रूहि पार्थिव ॥१३-८७-१॥
O virtuous and sinless one, you have described the duties of the four varṇas; in the same way, tell me fully the entire Śrāddha ritual, O king. (13-87-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
युधिष्ठिरेणैवमुक्तो भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा। इमं श्राद्धविधिं कृत्स्नं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे ॥१३-८७-२॥
Thus, when addressed by Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, then began to declare this complete rite of the śrāddha. (13-87-2)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
शृणुष्वावहितो राजञ्श्राद्धकल्पमिमं शुभम्। धन्यं यशस्यं पुत्रीयं पितृयज्ञं परन्तप ॥१३-८७-३॥
O king, listen attentively to this auspicious śrāddha rite, which is meritorious, leads to fame and progeny, and is the ancestral oblation, O vanquisher of enemies. (13-87-3)
देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। पिशाचकिंनराणां च पूज्या वै पितरः सदा ॥१३-८७-४॥
The ancestors are always worthy of honor for gods, demons, humans, gandharvas, serpents, rākṣasas, piśācas, and kinnaras. (13-87-4)
पितॄन्पूज्यादितः पश्चाद्देवान्सन्तर्पयन्ति वै। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पुरुषः पूजयेत्सदा ॥१३-८७-५॥
One should first honor the ancestors and afterwards satisfy the gods. Therefore, a person should always perform worship with all effort. (13-87-5)
अन्वाहार्यं महाराज पितॄणां श्राद्धमुच्यते। तच्चामिषेण विधिना विधिः प्रथमकल्पितः ॥१३-८७-६॥
O great king, what is eaten afterwards is called the śrāddha for the ancestors. Originally, this rite was established with non-meat (vegetarian) offerings by ritual. (13-87-6)
सर्वेष्वहःसु प्रीयन्ते कृतैः श्राद्धैः पितामहाः। प्रवक्ष्यामि तु ते सर्वांस्तिथ्यां तिथ्यां गुणागुणान् ॥१३-८७-७॥
The ancestors are pleased by śrāddha performed on all days. But I will tell you, for every lunar day, all the merits and demerits. (13-87-7)
येष्वहःसु कृतैः श्राद्धैर्यत्फलं प्राप्यतेऽनघ। तत्सर्वं कीर्तयिष्यामि यथावत्तन्निबोध मे ॥१३-८७-८॥
O sinless one, I shall declare to you, as it is, all the results obtained from śrāddhas performed on those days; understand that from me. (13-87-8)
पितॄनर्च्य प्रतिपदि प्राप्नुयात्स्वगृहे स्त्रियः। अभिरूपप्रजायिन्यो दर्शनीया बहुप्रजाः ॥१३-८७-९॥
Having worshipped the forefathers on the first day, one may obtain in his own house women who bear beautiful children, are attractive, and have many offspring. (13-87-9)
स्त्रियो द्वितीयां जायन्ते तृतीयायां तु वन्दिनः। चतुर्थ्यां क्षुद्रपशवो भवन्ति बहवो गृहे ॥१३-८७-१०॥
Women are born in the second year; but in the third year, bards, and in the fourth year, many small animals are found in the house. (13-87-10)
पञ्चम्यां बहवः पुत्रा जायन्ते कुर्वतां नृप। कुर्वाणास्तु नराः षष्ठ्यां भवन्ति द्युतिभागिनः ॥१३-८७-११॥
O king, many sons are born to those performing rites on the fifth nakṣatra; but those men who perform on the sixth become endowed with splendor. (13-87-11)
कृषिभागी भवेच्छ्राद्धं कुर्वाणः सप्तमीं नृप। अष्टम्यां तु प्रकुर्वाणो वाणिज्ये लाभमाप्नुयात् ॥१३-८७-१२॥
O king, one involved in agriculture should perform the śrāddha on the seventh day; but if it is performed on the eighth day, one may attain profit in trade. (13-87-12)
नवम्यां कुर्वतः श्राद्धं भवत्येकशफं बहु। विवर्धन्ते तु दशमीं गावः श्राद्धानि कुर्वतः ॥१३-८७-१३॥
When one performs the śrāddha on the ninth day, the merit results in many one-hoofed animals (such as horses); but when one performs it on the tenth day, the merit yields an increase of cows. (13-87-13)
कुप्यभागी भवेन्मर्त्यः कुर्वन्नेकादशीं नृप। ब्रह्मवर्चस्विनः पुत्रा जायन्ते तस्य वेश्मनि ॥१३-८७-१४॥
O king, a mortal performing Ekadashi becomes a recipient of vessels (auspicious gifts); sons endowed with Brahmic radiance are born in his house. (13-87-14)
द्वादश्यामीहमानस्य नित्यमेव प्रदृश्यते। रजतं बहु चित्रं च सुवर्णं च मनोरमम् ॥१३-८७-१५॥
On the twelfth day, one who desires here always sees abundant silver, various and beautiful gold. (13-87-15)
ज्ञातीनां तु भवेच्छ्रेष्ठः कुर्वञ्श्राद्धं त्रयोदशीम्। अवश्यं तु युवानोऽस्य प्रमीयन्ते नरा गृहे ॥१३-८७-१६॥
Among relatives, he is considered the best who performs the śrāddha on the thirteenth day; otherwise, young men of his household certainly perish. (13-87-16)
युद्धभागी भवेन्मर्त्यः श्राद्धं कुर्वंश्चतुर्दशीम्। अमावास्यां तु निवपन्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ॥१३-८७-१७॥
A mortal by participating in battle is like one who performs śrāddha on the fourteenth lunar day; but by offering oblations on new moon day, he may attain all desires. (13-87-17)
कृष्णपक्षे दशम्यादौ वर्जयित्वा चतुर्दशीम्। श्राद्धकर्मणि तिथ्यः स्युः प्रशस्ता न तथेतराः ॥१३-८७-१८॥
In the dark fortnight, for performing śrāddha rites, lunar days from the tenth onwards—excluding the fourteenth—are considered proper; the others are not. (13-87-18)
यथा चैवापरः पक्षः पूर्वपक्षाद्विशिष्यते। तथा श्राद्धस्य पूर्वाह्णादपराह्णो विशिष्यते ॥१३-८७-१९॥
Just as the latter half of the lunar month is superior to the earlier half, so also, for the śrāddha, the afternoon is superior to the forenoon. (13-87-19)
