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भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
तथा विधौ प्रवृत्ते तु सर्व एव महर्षयः। पितृयज्ञानकुर्वन्त विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१३-९२-१॥
Thus, when the rite is commenced, all the great sages indeed perform the sacrifices to the ancestors according to prescribed procedure. (13-92-1)
ऋषयो धर्मनित्यास्तु कृत्वा निवपनान्युत। तर्पणं चाप्यकुर्वन्त तीर्थाम्भोभिर्यतव्रताः ॥१३-९२-२॥
The sages, who were always devoted to righteousness, having performed oblation-offerings, and also made libations with holy waters, carried out these rites with self-restraint and sincerity in their vows. (13-92-2)
निवापैर्दीयमानैश्च चातुर्वर्ण्येन भारत। तर्पिताः पितरो देवास्ते नान्नं जरयन्ति वै ॥१३-९२-३॥
O Bhārata, by the fourfold order giving offerings of food, when the ancestors and gods are satisfied, they indeed do not consume the food. (13-92-3)
अजीर्णेनाभिहन्यन्ते ते देवाः पितृभिः सह। सोममेवाभ्यपद्यन्त निवापान्नाभिपीडिताः ॥१३-९२-४॥
Afflicted by indigestion, those gods together with their ancestors, being oppressed by sacrificial food, resorted only to Soma. (13-92-4)
तेऽब्रुवन्सोममासाद्य पितरोऽजीर्णपीडिताः। निवापान्नेन पीड्यामः श्रेयो नोऽत्र विधीयताम् ॥१३-९२-५॥
The Fathers, afflicted by indigestion after obtaining Soma, said: "We are distressed by the oblation-food; let a better way be established for us here." (13-92-5)
तान्सोमः प्रत्युवाचाथ श्रेयश्चेदीप्सितं सुराः। स्वयम्भूसदनं यात स वः श्रेयो विधास्यति ॥१३-९२-६॥
Soma then replied to them, "If you desire what is best, O gods, go to the abode of the Self-born (Brahmā); he will grant you your good." (13-92-6)
ते सोमवचनाद्देवाः पितृभिः सह भारत। मेरुशृङ्गे समासीनं पितामहमुपागमन् ॥१३-९२-७॥
O Bhārata, the gods, together with the ancestors, having heard Soma's words, approached the Grandfather (Brahmā), who was seated on the peak of Meru. (13-92-7)
पितर ऊचुः॥
The ancestors said;
निवापान्नेन भगवन्भृशं पीड्यामहे वयम्। प्रसादं कुरु नो देव श्रेयो नः संविधीयताम् ॥१३-९२-८॥
O revered one, we are greatly afflicted by the food of offerings. O god, bestow your grace upon us; let welfare be provided for us. (13-92-8)
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा स्वयम्भूरिदमब्रवीत्। एष मे पार्श्वतो वह्निर्युष्मच्छ्रेयो विधास्यति ॥१३-९२-९॥
Having thus heard their words, the Self-born said this: "This fire at my side will accomplish your welfare." (13-92-9)
अग्निरुवाच॥
Agni said.
सहितास्तात भोक्ष्यामो निवापे समुपस्थिते। जरयिष्यथ चाप्यन्नं मया सार्धं न संशयः ॥१३-९२-१०॥
O dear one, when the offering of food is present, we shall eat together. You will also consume the food along with me, without any doubt. (13-92-10)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु पितरस्ततस्ते विज्वराभवन्। एतस्मात्कारणाच्चाग्नेः प्राक्तनं दीयते नृप ॥१३-९२-११॥
But, having heard this, the ancestors then became free from their affliction. Therefore, O king, the previous (offering) to Agni is given for this reason. (13-92-11)
निवप्ते चाग्निपूर्वे वै निवापे पुरुषर्षभ। न ब्रह्मराक्षसास्तं वै निवापं धर्षयन्त्युत ॥ रक्षांसि चापवर्तन्ते स्थिते देवे विभावसौ ॥१३-९२-१२॥
O best of men, when the oblation has been properly offered with fire, neither do the brahmarākṣasas violate that oblation, nor do the rakṣasas approach; for when the god Fire is present, they turn away. (13-92-12)
पूर्वं पिण्डं पितुर्दद्यात्ततो दद्यात्पितामहे। प्रपितामहाय च तत एष श्राद्धविधिः स्मृतः ॥१३-९२-१३॥
One should first offer the piṇḍa to the father, then to the grandfather, and then to the great-grandfather in that order; this is known as the prescribed procedure for the śrāddha rite. (13-92-13)
ब्रूयाच्छ्राद्धे च सावित्रीं पिण्डे पिण्डे समाहितः। सोमायेति च वक्तव्यं तथा पितृमतेति च ॥१३-९२-१४॥
At the śrāddha, one should recite the Sāvitrī mantra on each rice-ball with a concentrated mind; 'to Soma' and 'to Pitṛmat' should similarly be uttered. (13-92-14)
रजस्वला च या नारी व्यङ्गिता कर्णयोश्च या। निवापे नोपतिष्ठेत सङ्ग्राह्या नान्यवंशजाः ॥१३-९२-१५॥
A menstruating woman, a woman whose ears are deformed, and those born of another family—none of these should attend the offering, nor should they be accepted in ritual. (13-92-15)
जलं प्रतरमाणश्च कीर्तयेत पितामहान्। नदीमासाद्य कुर्वीत पितॄणां पिण्डतर्पणम् ॥१३-९२-१६॥
When crossing water, one should remember the ancestors; upon approaching the river, he should make the piṇḍa offering for the ancestors. (13-92-16)
पूर्वं स्ववंशजानां तु कृत्वाद्भिस्तर्पणं पुनः। सुहृत्सम्बन्धिवर्गाणां ततो दद्याज्जलाञ्जलिम् ॥१३-९२-१७॥
First, having satisfied one's own ancestors with libations of water, then one should offer a handful of water to the group of friends and relatives. (13-92-17)
कल्माषगोयुगेनाथ युक्तेन तरतो जलम्। पितरोऽभिलषन्ते वै नावं चाप्यधिरोहतः ॥ सदा नावि जलं तज्ज्ञाः प्रयच्छन्ति समाहिताः ॥१३-९२-१८॥
The ancestors, when crossing the water with a yoked team of black oxen, desire a boat and wish that those who have ascended may have one too. Those who know thus always offer water with concentration in the boat. (13-92-18)
मासार्धे कृष्णपक्षस्य कुर्यान्निवपनानि वै। पुष्टिरायुस्तथा वीर्यं श्रीश्चैव पितृवर्तिनः ॥१३-९२-१९॥
One should perform ancestor-offerings during the half-month of the dark fortnight; nourishment, longevity, strength, and prosperity accrue to the person who serves the ancestors. (13-92-19)
पितामहः पुलस्त्यश्च वसिष्ठः पुलहस्तथा। अङ्गिराश्च क्रतुश्चैव कश्यपश्च महानृषिः ॥ एते कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ महायोगेश्वराः स्मृताः ॥१३-९२-२०॥
Brahmā (the Grandfather), Pulastya, Vasiṣṭha, Pulaha, Aṅgirās, Kratu, and Kaśyapa the great sage—these are remembered as the great lords of yoga, O best of the Kuru dynasty. (13-92-20)
एते च पितरो राजन्नेष श्राद्धविधिः परः। प्रेतास्तु पिण्डसम्बन्धान्मुच्यन्ते तेन कर्मणा ॥१३-९२-२१॥
O king, these are the ancestors, and this śrāddha rite is supreme. By that act, the departed souls are released from the bond with the piṇḍa offering. (13-92-21)
इत्येषा पुरुषश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धोत्पत्तिर्यथागमम्। ख्यापिता पूर्वनिर्दिष्टा दानं वक्ष्याम्यतः परम् ॥१३-९२-२२॥
Thus, O best of men, the origin of Śrāddha according to scripture has been declared as previously indicated; I shall now explain the subject of gifts further. (13-92-22)
