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bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tathā vidhau pravṛtte tu sarva eva maharṣayaḥ। pitṛ-yajñānakurvanta vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥13-92-1॥
Thus, when the rite is commenced, all the great sages indeed perform the sacrifices to the ancestors according to prescribed procedure. (13-92-1)
ṛṣayo dharmanityāstu kṛtvā nivapanānyuta. tarpaṇaṃ cāpyakurvanta tīrthāmbhobhiryatavratāḥ ॥13-92-2॥
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)
nivāpairdīyamānaiś ca cāturvarṇyena bhārata। tarpitāḥ pitaro devās te nānnaṃ jarayanti vai ॥13-92-3॥
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)
ajīrṇenābhihanyante te devāḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha। somamevābhyapadyanta nivāpānnābhipīḍitāḥ ॥13-92-4॥
Afflicted by indigestion, those gods together with their ancestors, being oppressed by sacrificial food, resorted only to Soma. (13-92-4)
te 'bruvan somam āsādya pitaro 'jīrṇapīḍitāḥ। nivāpānnena pīḍyāmaḥ śreyo no 'tra vidhīyatām॥13-92-5॥
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)
tān somaḥ pratyuvācātha śreyaś ced īpsitaṁ surāḥ। svayambhūsadanaṁ yāta sa vaḥ śreyo vidhāsyati ॥13-92-6॥
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)
te somavacanād devāḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha bhārata. meruśṛṅge samāsīnaṃ pitāmaham upāgaman ॥13-92-7॥
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)
pitar ūcuḥ॥
The ancestors said;
nivāpānnena bhagavan bhṛśaṃ pīḍyāmahe vayam। prasādaṃ kuru no deva śreyo naḥ saṃvidhīyatām ॥13-92-8॥
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)
iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā svayambhūr idam abravīt। eṣa me pārśvato vahnir yuṣmac-chreyo vidhāsyati ॥13-92-9॥
Having thus heard their words, the Self-born said this: "This fire at my side will accomplish your welfare." (13-92-9)
agniruvāca॥
Agni said.
sahitāstāta bhokṣyāmo nivāpe samupasthite। jarayiṣyatha cāpyannaṃ mayā sārdhaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥13-92-10॥
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)
etac chrutvā tu pitaras tataḥ te vijvarā bhavan। etasmāt kāraṇāc cāgneḥ prāktanaṃ dīyate nṛpa ॥13-92-11॥
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)
nivapte cāgnipūrve vai nivāpe puruṣarṣabha। na brahmarākṣasāstaṃ vai nivāpaṃ dharṣayantyuta॥ rakṣāṃsi cāpavartante sthite deve vibhāvasau॥13-92-12॥
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)
pūrvaṃ piṇḍaṃ pitur dadyāt tato dadyāt pitāmahe। prapitāmahāya ca tata eṣa śrāddhavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ ॥13-92-13॥
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)
brūyāc chrāddhe ca sāvitrīṃ piṇḍe piṇḍe samāhitaḥ। somāyeti ca vaktavyaṃ tathā pitṛmateti ca ॥13-92-14॥
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)
rajasvalā ca yā nārī vyaṅgitā karṇayoś ca yā। nivāpe nopatiṣṭheta saṅgrāhyā nānya-vaṃśajāḥ ॥13-92-15॥
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)
jalaṃ prataramāṇaś ca kīrtayet pitāmahān। nadīm āsādya kurvīta pitṝṇāṃ piṇḍatarpaṇam ॥13-92-16॥
When crossing water, one should remember the ancestors; upon approaching the river, he should make the piṇḍa offering for the ancestors. (13-92-16)
pūrvaṃ svavaṃśajānāṃ tu kṛtvā adbhiḥ tarpaṇaṃ punaḥ। suhṛt-sambandhi-vargāṇāṃ tato dadyāt jalāñjalim ॥13-92-17॥
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)
kalmāṣagoyugenātha yuktena tarato jalam। pitaro'bhilaṣante vai nāvaṃ cāpyAdhirohataḥ ॥ sadā nāvi jalaṃ tajjñāḥ prayacchanti samāhitāḥ ॥13-92-18॥
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)
māsārdhe kṛṣṇapakṣasya kuryān nivapanāni vai। puṣṭir āyuḥ tathā vīryaṃ śrīś caiva pitṛvartinaḥ ॥13-92-19॥
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)
pitāmahaḥ pulastyaś ca vasiṣṭhaḥ pulahas tathā। aṅgirāś ca kratuś caiva kaśyapaś ca mahān ṛṣiḥ ॥ ete kurukulāśreṣṭha mahāyogeśvarāḥ smṛtāḥ ॥13-92-20॥
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)
ete ca pitaro rājan neṣa śrāddhavidhiḥ paraḥ। pretās tu piṇḍasambandhān mucyante tena karmaṇā॥13-92-21॥
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)
ityeṣā puruṣaśreṣṭha śrāddhotpattiryathāgamam। khyāpitā pūrvanirdiṣṭā dānaṃ vakṣyāmyataḥ param ॥13-92-22॥
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)
