13.088
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
किं स्विद्दत्तं पितृभ्यो वै भवत्यक्षयमीश्वर। किं हविश्चिररात्राय किमानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥१३-८८-१॥
O Lord, what offering, given to the ancestors, is truly imperishable? What oblation is suitable for a long-lasting rite? What is fit for eternity? (13-88-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
हवींषि श्राद्धकल्पे तु यानि श्राद्धविदो विदुः। तानि मे शृणु काम्यानि फलं चैषां युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-८८-२॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, listen to me about which oblations are prescribed in the rite of śrāddha by those who know śrāddha, as well as about their desirable fruits. (13-88-2)
तिलैर्व्रीहियवैर्माषैरद्भिर्मूलफलैस्तथा। दत्तेन मासं प्रीयन्ते श्राद्धेन पितरो नृप ॥१३-८८-३॥
O king, by the śrāddha ceremony, offering sesame seeds, rice and barley, black gram beans, water, and roots and fruits, the ancestors are satisfied for a month. (13-88-3)
वर्धमानतिलं श्राद्धमक्षयं मनुरब्रवीत्। सर्वेष्वेव तु भोज्येषु तिलाः प्राधान्यतः स्मृताः ॥१३-८८-४॥
Manu said that an oblation accompanied by abundant sesame seeds is imperishable. Among all foods offered at oblations, sesame seeds are regarded as preeminent. (13-88-4)
द्वौ मासौ तु भवेत्तृप्तिर्मत्स्यैः पितृगणस्य ह। त्रीन्मासानाविकेनाहुश्चातुर्मास्यं शशेन तु ॥१३-८८-५॥
The group of ancestors is said to be satisfied by fishes for two months; by mutton for three months, and in the cāturmāsya rite, by a hare. (13-88-5)
आजेन मासान्प्रीयन्ते पञ्चैव पितरो नृप। वाराहेण तु षण्मासान्सप्त वै शाकुनेन तु ॥१३-८८-६॥
O king, the ancestors are pleased for five months when a goat is offered. But by offering a boar, they are pleased for six months, and by offering a fowl, for seven months indeed. (13-88-6)
मासानष्टौ पार्षतेन रौरवेण नवैव तु। गवयस्य तु मांसेन तृप्तिः स्याद्दशमासिकी ॥१३-८८-७॥
Satisfaction lasts for eight months by the flesh of a spotted deer; by the flesh of a ruru-deer, only nine months; but by the flesh of a wild ox, satisfaction may last ten months. (13-88-7)
मासानेकादश प्रीतिः पितॄणां माहिषेण तु। गव्येन दत्ते श्राद्धे तु संवत्सरमिहोच्यते ॥१३-८८-८॥
It is said here that the ancestors are satisfied for eleven months when buffalo meat is offered; but when cow meat is given at the śrāddha, it is said to provide satisfaction for a year. (13-88-8)
यथा गव्यं तथा युक्तं पायसं सर्पिषा सह। वाध्रीणसस्य मांसेन तृप्तिर्द्वादशवार्षिकी ॥१३-८८-९॥
Just as cow's milk, so rice pudding mixed with ghee, and satisfaction from the meat of a ram last for twelve years. (13-88-9)
आनन्त्याय भवेद्दत्तं खड्गमांसं पितृक्षये। कालशाकं च लौहं चाप्यानन्त्यं छाग उच्यते ॥१३-८८-१०॥
It is said that giving rhinoceros meat at ancestral rites leads to endlessness. Also, black nightshade and iron, and the goat, are described as producing endlessness. (13-88-10)
गाथाश्चाप्यत्र गायन्ति पितृगीता युधिष्ठिर। सनत्कुमारो भगवान्पुरा मय्यभ्यभाषत ॥१३-८८-११॥
O Yudhishthira, here also the verses called 'songs of the ancestors' are sung. Formerly, the venerable Sanatkumara spoke to me. (13-88-11)
अपि नः स कुले जायाद्यो नो दद्यात्त्रयोदशीम्। मघासु सर्पिषा युक्तं पायसं दक्षिणायने ॥१३-८८-१२॥
May a person be born in our family who would give us rice pudding with ghee during the southern solstice, on the thirteenth day when the moon is in Maghā. (13-88-12)
आजेन वापि लौहेन मघास्वेव यतव्रतः। हस्तिच्छायासु विधिवत्कर्णव्यजनवीजितम् ॥१३-८८-१३॥
Either with a silver or iron (implement), in the Maghā constellation itself, the self-restrained one, under the shade of elephants, should properly be fanned with ear-fans. (13-88-13)
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत्। यत्रासौ प्रथितो लोकेष्वक्षय्यकरणो वटः ॥१३-८८-१४॥
It is desirable to have many sons, so that even if only one goes to Gayā—where the famous banyan tree, known for granting imperishable results, stands—one gains benefit. (13-88-14)
आपो मूलं फलं मांसमन्नं वापि पितृक्षये। यत्किञ्चिन्मधुसंमिश्रं तदानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥१३-८८-१५॥
Waters, roots, fruits, meat, or food—whatever is mixed with honey at the śrāddha for the ancestors—that serves for endless (reward). (13-88-15)
