13.090
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kīdṛśebhyaḥ pradātavyaṃ bhavecchrāddhaṃ pitāmaha। dvijebhyaḥ kuruśārdūla tanme vyākhyātumarhasi ॥13-90-1॥
O grandfather, to what kinds of Brāhmaṇas should the śrāddha offering be made? O tiger among the Kurus, you ought to explain that to me. (13-90-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said;
brāhmaṇān na parīkṣeta kṣatriyo dāna-dharma-vit। daive karmaṇi pitrye tu nyāyyam āhuḥ parīkṣaṇam ॥13-90-2॥
A kṣatriya who knows the law of giving should not test brāhmaṇas. But in divine acts and ancestral rites, testing is said to be proper. (13-90-2)
devatāḥ pūjayantīha daivenaiva iha tejasā. upetya tasmād devebhyaḥ sarvebhyo dāpayen naraḥ ॥13-90-3॥
Deities worship here by divine splendor indeed; therefore, having approached, a man should cause gifts to be given to all the gods. (13-90-3)
śrāddhe tv atha mahārāja parīkṣed brāhmaṇān budhaḥ। kulaśīlavayorūpair vidyayābhijanena ca ॥13-90-4॥
O great king, at the śrāddha, the wise should choose brāhmaṇas after examining their family, character, age, qualities, learning, and noble birth. (13-90-4)
eṣām anye paṅktidūṣās tathānye paṅktipāvanāḥ। apāṅkteyās tu ye rājan kīrtayiṣyāmi tāñ śṛṇu ॥13-90-5॥
Among these, some are defilers of the offerings; others are purifiers of the offerings. As for those unfit for offerings, O king, I will now declare them—listen.
kitavo bhrūṇahā yakṣmī paśupālo nirākṛtiḥ। grāmapreṣyo vārdhuṣiko gāyanaḥ sarvavikrayī ॥13-90-6॥
A gambler, killer of an embryo, person afflicted with consumption, herdsman, deformed person, village messenger, marriage-broker, singer, and seller of everything. (13-90-6)
agāradhāhī garadaḥ kuṇḍāśī somavikrayī। sāmudriko rājabhṛtyastailikaḥ kūṭakārakaḥ ॥13-90-7॥
A house-burner, poisoner, one who eats from the pot, a seller of soma, a seafarer, royal servant, oilman, and falsifier. (13-90-7)
pitrā vivadamānaś ca yasya copapatir gṛhe। abhiśastas tathā stenaḥ śilpaṃ yaś copajīvati ॥13-90-8॥
One who quarrels with his father, whose wife has a paramour in the house, who is cursed, who is a thief, or who earns his livelihood by craft. (13-90-8)
parvakāraś ca sūcī ca mitradhṛk-pāradārikaḥ | avrātānām upādhyāyaḥ kāṇḍapṛṣṭhas tathaiva ca॥13-90-9॥
A sacrificial officiant, an informer, a betrayer of friends, an adulterer, a teacher of the irreligious, and one with a hump on the back are all (to be regarded) likewise. (13-90-9)
śvabhir yaś ca parikrāmed yaḥ śunā daṣṭa eva ca। parivittiś ca yaś ca syād duś-carmā guru-talpa-gaḥ॥ kuśīlavaḥ devalakaḥ nakṣatrair yaś ca jīvati॥ 13-90-10॥
He who wanders with dogs, or who has been bitten by a dog; an outcaste, one with diseased skin, one who approaches his teacher's bed; a minstrel, a shrine-attendant, and one who lives by astrology—these (are excluded) (13-90-10)
etāni ha vijānīyād apāṅkteyān dvijādhamān | śūdrāṇām upadeśaṃ ca ye kurvanti alpacetasaḥ ॥13-90-11॥
One should indeed know these as unworthy participants, the lowest among the twice-born: those of little understanding who instruct the Śūdras. (13-90-11)
ṣaṣṭiṃ kāṇaḥ śataṃ ṣaṇḍhaḥ śvitrī yāvat prapaśyati। paṅktyāṃ samupaviṣṭāyāṃ tāvad dūṣayate nṛpa ॥13-90-12॥
Sixty one-eyed men, a hundred eunuchs, and a leprous woman, as long as they are present in a row (for eating), so long the king causes pollution. (13-90-12)
yadveṣṭitaśirā bhuṅkte yad bhuṅkte dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ| sopānatkaś ca yad bhuṅkte sarvaṃ vidyāt tad āsuram ॥13-90-13॥
One who eats with a covered head, or eats facing south, or eats wearing footwear—know all such acts as demonic. (13-90-13)
asūyatā ca yaddattaṁ yacca śraddhāvivarjitam। sarvaṁ tadasurendrāya brahmā bhāgamakalpayat ॥13-90-14॥
Brahmā assigned as the share of the lord of the Asuras everything that was given with envy or without faith. (13-90-14)
śvānaś ca paṅktidūṣāś ca na āvekṣeran kathaṁcana। tasmāt parivṛte dadyāt tilān ca anvavakīrayet॥13-90-15॥
Dogs and those who pollute ritual rows should not look on at all. Therefore, after surrounding (with people), one should give and sprinkle sesame seeds. (13-90-15)
tilādāne ca kravyādā ye ca krodhavaśā gaṇāḥ। yātudhānāḥ piśācāś ca vipralumpanti taddhaviḥ॥13-90-16॥
When sesame is offered, flesh-eating beings and groups subject to wrath, along with demons and piśācas, plunder that offering. (13-90-16)
yāvad-dhy apaṅktyaḥ paṅktyāṃ vai bhuñjānān anupaśyati। tāvat phalād bhraṃśayati dātāraṃ tasya bāliśam ॥13-90-17॥
As long as an unworthy person (apaṅktya) remains in the row of eaters, so long does he cause the giver, that foolish one, to fall away from the religious fruit. (13-90-17)
ime tu bharataśreṣṭha vijñeyāḥ paṅktipāvanāḥ। ye tvatastānpravakṣyāmi parīkṣasveha tāndvijān ॥13-90-18॥
But these, O best of the Bharatas, are to be known as purifiers of the assembly; those twice-born, I will declare them to you — examine them here. (13-90-18)
vedavidyāvratasnātā brāhmaṇāḥ sarva eva hi। pāṅkteyānyāṃstu vakṣyāmi jñeyāste paṅktipāvanāḥ ॥13-90-19॥
Brāhmaṇas who have undertaken the vow of Vedic study—indeed, all of them—are worthy. But now I shall declare those entitled to sit in the śrāddha row; they are to be regarded as purifiers of the śrāddha assembly. (13-90-19)
triṇāciketaḥ pañcāgnis trisuparṇaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavit। brahmadeyānusantānaś chandogo jyeṣṭhasāmagaḥ ॥13-90-20॥
He is the knower of the three Nachiketas fires, the five fires, the three Suparṇas, and the six limbs; one who continues giving offerings to Brahman, singer of Chandas metres, and singer of the most excellent Sāman. (13-90-20)
mātāpitroryaśca vaśyaḥ śrotriyo daśapūruṣaḥ। ṛtukālābhigāmī ca dharmapatnīṣu yaḥ sadā ॥ vedavidyāvratasnāto vipraḥ paṅktiṃ punātyuta ॥13-90-21॥
A brāhmaṇa who is obedient to his mother and father, versed in the Veda through ten generations, who approaches his lawful wives at the proper times, and who has completed the vow and Vedic study, indeed purifies the dining company. (13-90-21)
atharvaśiraso'dhyetā brahmacārī yatavrataḥ। satyavādī dharmaśīlaḥ svakarmanirataśca yaḥ॥13-90-22॥
He who is the reciter of the Atharvaśiras, a celibate student practicing self-restraint, truthful, virtuous, and devoted to his own duties (13-90-22)
ye ca puṇyeṣu tīrtheṣu abhiṣekakṛtaśramāḥ। makheṣu ca samantriṣu bhavantyavabhṛthāplutāḥ ॥13-90-23॥
And those who, in sacred pilgrimage sites, become wearied by ablutions, and who in the rituals accompanied by mantras undergo the concluding ceremonial bath, are purified. (13-90-23)
akrodhanā acapalāḥ kṣāntā dāntā jitendriyāḥ। sarvabhūtahitā ye ca śrāddheṣv etān nimantrayet॥ eteṣu dattam akṣayyam ete vai paṅkti-pāvanāḥ॥13-90-24॥
Those who are free from anger, steadfast, forbearing, self-controlled, who have mastered their senses, and are well-wishers of all beings—these are the people one should invite to śrāddha ceremonies. Whatever is given to them becomes imperishable, for they indeed purify the assembly. (13-90-24)
ime pare mahārāja vijñeyāḥ paṅktipāvanāḥ। yatayo mokṣadharmajñā yogāḥ sucaritavratāḥ॥ 13-90-25॥
O great king, these others are to be known as purifiers of the ritual company: ascetics, knowers of the law of liberation, yogins, and those whose vows are well-observed. (13-90-25)
ye caitihāsaṃ prayatāḥ śrāvayanti dvijottamān। ye ca bhāṣyavidaḥ kecidye ca vyākaraṇe ratāḥ ॥13-90-26॥
Those who are devoted to making the twice-born best hear the itihāsa (history), those who are versed in commentaries, some, and those who are engaged in grammar; (13-90-26)
adhīyate purāṇaṃ ye dharmaśāstrāṇyathāpi ca। adhītya ca yathānyāyaṃ vidhivat tasya kāriṇaḥ ॥13-90-27॥
The person who studies the Purāṇas and the Dharmaśāstras, and, having studied them properly in accordance with the law, acts accordingly, his actions are correctly performed. (13-90-27)
upapanno gurukule satyavādī sahasradaḥ। agryaḥ sarveṣu vedeṣu sarvapravacaneṣu ca ॥13-90-28॥
Born and educated at the preceptor’s house, speaking truth, liberal giver of thousands, he was foremost in all the Vedas and in all recitations and teachings. (13-90-28)
yāvadete prapaśyanti paṅktyāstāvatpunantyuta. tato hi pāvanātpaṅktyāḥ paṅktipāvana ucyate ॥13-90-29॥
As long as these observe the row, they purify to that extent. Therefore, because of purifying the row, the purifier-of-the-row is so called. (13-90-29)
krośād-ardha-tṛtīyāt tu pāvayed eka eva hi. brahmadeyānusantāna iti brahmavido viduḥ ॥13-90-30॥
But, starting from one and a half plus a third of a krośa, it is said that only one (person) should conduct the purification. This is regarded by those learned in Brahman as the proper succession concerning gifts to Brāhmaṇas. (13-90-30)
anṛtviganupādhyāyaḥ sa ced agrāsanaṃ vrajet | ṛtvigbhir ananujñātaḥ paṅktyā harati duṣkṛtam ॥13-90-31॥
If someone who is neither a priest nor a teacher takes a seat at the front without permission from the priests and eats with the group, he incurs sin. (13-90-31)
atha ced vedavit sarvaiḥ paṅktidoṣair vivarjitaḥ। na ca syāt patito rājan paṅktipāvana eva saḥ॥13-90-32॥
O king, if a knower of the Veda is free from all group-related defects and is not fallen, he alone is the purifier of the group. (13-90-32)
tasmātsarvaprayatnena parīkṣyāmantrayeddvijān। svakarma-niratān-dāntān-kule jātān-bahuśrutān ॥13-90-33॥
Therefore, one should diligently consult the twice-born who are self-controlled, engaged in their own duties, born in good families, and well-versed in the scriptures, after properly examining them. (13-90-33)
yasya mitra-pradhānāni śrāddhāni ca havīṃṣi ca। na prīṇāti pitṝn devān svargaṃ ca na sa gacchati॥13-90-34॥
He whose śrāddha offerings and rituals are led by friendship does not please the ancestors and gods, and he does not attain heaven. (13-90-34)
yaś ca śrāddhe kurute saṅgatāni; na devayānena pathā sa yāti. sa vai muktaḥ pippalaṃ bandhanād vā; svargāl lokāc cyavate śrāddhamitraḥ ॥13-90-35॥
He who forms attachments at the śrāddha does not go by the divine path. Rather, even if freed from bondage, the friend of the śrāddha falls from the heavenly world. (13-90-35)
tasmān-mitraṁ śrāddhakṛnnādriyeta; dadyānmitrebhyaḥ saṅgrahārthaṁ dhanāni। yaṁ manyate naiva śatruṁ na mitraṁ; taṁ madhyasthaṁ bhojayed dhavyakavye ॥13-90-36॥
Therefore, one performing śrāddha should not honor a friend, but should give wealth gathered for distribution to friends. The one whom one considers neither as friend nor enemy, that neutral person should be fed at the offering to gods and ancestors. (13-90-36)
yathoṣare bījam-uptaṃ na rohe; na cāsyoptā prāpnuyād bījabhāgam। evaṃ śrāddhaṃ bhuktam anarhamāṇaiḥ na ca iha na amutra phalaṃ dadāti ॥13-90-37॥
Just as a seed sown in barren land does not sprout, and the sower does not obtain its fruit, so a śrāddha offering consumed by the unworthy yields no fruit, either in this world or the next. (13-90-37)
brāhmaṇo hy anadhīyānas tṛṇāgnir iva śāmyati। tasmai śrāddhaṃ na dātavyaṃ na hi bhasmani hūyate ॥13-90-38॥
A Brahmin who does not study is extinguished like a fire of dry grass; one should not give the śrāddha offering to him, for a sacrifice is never made into ashes. (13-90-38)
sambhojanī nāma piśāca-dakṣiṇā; sā naiva devān na pitṝn upaiti. ihaiva sā bhrāmyati kṣīṇa-puṇyā; śāla-antare gauḥ iva naṣṭa-vatsā ॥13-90-39॥
The offering called sambhojanī, which is a piśāca-offering, does not reach the gods nor the ancestors. Instead, she wanders here with her merit exhausted, just like a cow whose calf is lost, straying into another cowshed. (13-90-39)
yathāgnau śānte ghṛtam ājuhoti; tan naiva devān na pitṝn upaiti. tathā dattaṃ nartane gāyane ca; yāṃ ca anṛce dakṣiṇām āvṛṇoti ॥13-90-40॥
Just as offering clarified butter into an extinguished fire does not reach the gods or ancestors, so also gifts given during dancing and singing, and a dakṣiṇā appointed by one who does not chant Ṛc hymns, do not reach their intended recipients. (13-90-40)
ubhau hinasti na bhunakti caiṣā; yā cānṛce dakṣiṇā dīyate vai. āghātanī garhitaiṣā patantī; teṣāṃ pretānpātayeddevayānāt ॥13-90-41॥
This gift, which is given to one not reciting the sacred texts, destroys both (the giver and recipient), and neither enjoys it; indeed, such a gift is blameworthy and brings misfortune, causing the souls of those people to fall from the path of the gods. (13-90-41)
ṛṣīṇāṃ samayaṃ nityaṃ ye caranti yudhiṣṭhira। niścitāḥ sarvadharmajñāstān devā brāhmaṇān viduḥ ॥13-90-42॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the gods recognize as brāhmaṇas those who are firmly established, know all forms of dharma, and always follow the customs of the ṛṣis. (13-90-42)
svādhyāyaniṣṭhā ṛṣayo jñānaniṣṭhās tathaiva ca। taponishṭhāś ca boddhavyāḥ karmanishtāś ca bhārata ॥13-90-43॥
O Bhārata, sages established in self-study, knowledge, austerity, and action are to be understood as such. (13-90-43)
kavyāni jñānaniṣṭhebhyaḥ pratiṣṭhāpyāni bhārata। tatra ye brāhmaṇāḥ kecin na nindati hi te varāḥ ॥13-90-44॥
O Bhārata, poetic compositions should be entrusted to those firmly established in knowledge. Among them, the brāhmaṇas who do not criticize are indeed the best. (13-90-44)
ye tu nindanti jalpeṣu na tāñśrāddheṣu bhojayet. brāhmaṇā ninditā rājanhanyustripuruṣaṃ kulam ॥13-90-45॥
But those who speak ill in gossip should not be fed at śrāddha-rites. Reviled brāhmaṇas, O King, would destroy the family for three generations. (13-90-45)
vaikhānasānāṃ vacanam ṛṣīṇāṃ śrūyate nṛpa। dūrād eva parīkṣeta brāhmaṇān vedapāragān॥ priyān vā yadi vā dveṣyāṃs teṣu tac chrāddham āvapet॥13-90-46॥
O king, it is said by the Vaikhānasa sages that one should carefully examine, even from a distance, the Brahmins accomplished in the Vedas, and offer the śrāddha among them—whether they are dear or disliked. (13-90-46)
yaḥ sahasraṃ sahasrāṇāṃ bhojayeda-nṛcāṃ naraḥ। ekas tām mantravit prītaḥ sarvān arhati bhārata॥13-90-47॥
O Bhārata, if a man should feed thousands upon thousands of those unversed in the ṛc (Vedas), a single satisfied knower of mantras surpasses them all. (13-90-47)
