भीष्म उवाच तथा निमौ प्रवृत्ते तु सर्व पितृयज्ञं तु कुर्वन्ति विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥ एव महर्षयः।
Bhishma said After Nini had acted thus, all the great Rishis began to celebrate the sacrifice in honour of the departed Manes (called the Shraddha) according to rites laid down in the ordinance.
ऋषयो धर्मनित्यास्तु कृत्वा निवपनान्युत। तर्पणं चाप्यकुर्वन्त तीर्थाम्भोभिर्यतव्रताः॥
Performing all duties, the Rishis, having performed Shraddhas, began to also offer oblations of sacred waters, with attention.
निवापैर्दीयमानैश्च चातुर्वर्ण्यन भारत। तर्पिताः पितरो देवास्तवान्नं जरयन्ति वै॥
On account, however, of the offerings made by persons of all classes, the departed Manes began to digest that food.
अजीर्णैस्त्वभिहन्यन्ते ते देवा: पितृभिः सह। सोममेवाभ्यपद्यन्त तदा ह्यन्नाभिपीडिताः॥
Soon they, and the celestials also with them, became afflicted with indigestion. Indeed, afflicted with the heaps of food that all persons began to give them, they went to Soma.
तेऽब्रुवन् सोममासाद्य पितरोऽजीर्णपीडिताः। नेवापान्नेन पीड्यामः श्रेयो नोऽत्र विधीयताम्॥ तान् सोमः प्रत्युवाचाथ श्रेयश्चेदीप्सितं सुराः। स्वयम्भूसदनं यात स वः श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति॥ ते सोमवचनाद् देवाः पितृभिः सह भारत। मेरुशृङ्गे समासीनं पितामहमुपागमन्॥
Approaching Soma they said, Alas, great is our misery on account of the food that is offered to us at Shraddhas. Do you ordain what is necessary for our comfort? Soma answered to them, saying, if, you gods, you are desirous of acquiring comfort do you then go to the abode of the Self Create, Even he will do what is for your behoofAt these words of Soma, the celestials and the departed Manes then went, O Bharata, to the Grandfather where he was seated on the summit of the mountains of Meru.
देवा ऊचुः निवापान्नेन भगवन् भृशं पीड्यामहे वयम्। प्रसादं कुरु नो देव श्रेयो नः संविधीयताम्॥
The gods said o illustrious one, with the food that is offered us in sacrifices and Shraddhas, we are suffering very much. O lord, show us favour and do what would be for our behoof.
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा स्वयम्भूरिदमब्रवीत्। एष मे पार्श्वतो वह्निर्युष्पच्छ्रेयोऽभिधास्यति॥
Hearing these words of theirs, the SelfCreate said to them in reply, Here, the god of fire is sitting beside me. Even he will do what is for your good.
अग्नि उवाच सहितास्तात भोक्ष्यामो निवापे समुपस्थिते। जरायिव्यथ चाप्यन्नं मया सार्धं न संशयः॥
Agni said You sires, when a Shraddha comes, we shall in a body eat the offerings made to us. If you eat those offerings with me, you shall, forsooth, succeed in digesting them easily.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु पितरस्ततस्ते विज्वराऽभवन्। एतस्मात् कारणाच्चान्गेः प्राक् तावद् दीयते नृप।।११
Hearing these words of the God of Fire, the departed Manes became comforted it is for this reason also that in making offerings at Shraddhas a share is first offered to the God of Fire, O king.
निवप्ते चाग्निपूर्वं वै निवापे पुरुषर्षभ। न ब्रह्मराक्षसास्तं वै निवापं धर्षयन्त्युत॥
If a portion of the offerings be first made of the God of Fire at a Shraddha, O king, Rakshasas of twiceborn origin cannot then do any injury to such a Shraddha.
रक्षांसि चापवर्तन्ते स्थिते देवे हुताशने। पूर्वं पिण्डं पितुर्दद्यात् ततो दद्यात् पितामहे॥
Sceing the God of Fire at a Shraddha, Rakshasas fly away forin it. The ritual of the Shraddha is that the cake should first be offered to the (departed) father. Next, one should be offered to the grandfather.
प्रपितामहाय च तत एष श्राद्धविधिः स्मृतः। ब्रूयाच्छ्राद्धे च सावित्री पिण्डे पिण्डे समाहितः॥
Next should one be offered to the greatgrandfather. This is the ordinance relating to Shraddha. Over every cake that is offered, the offer should, with rapt attention, after the Savitri mantras.
सोमायेति च वक्तव्यं तथा पितृमतेति च। रजस्वला च या नारी व्यगिता कर्णयोश्च या। निवापे नोपतिष्ठेत संग्राह्या नान्यवंशजा॥
This other Mantra also should be uttered, viz., to Soma who is fond of the departed manes. A woman that has become impure on account of her season, or one whose ears have been cut off, should not be allowed to remain where a Shraddha is being done, Nor should a woman be brought from a family other than that of the person who is performing the Shraddha.
जलं प्रतरमाणश्च कीर्तयेत पितामहान्। नदीमासाद्य कुर्वीत पितॄणां पिण्डतर्पणम्॥
While crossing a river, one should offer oblations of water to his Pitris, naming them all. Indeed, when one comes upon a river one should please his Pitris with oblations of water.
पूर्वं स्ववंशजानां तु कृत्वाद्भिस्तर्पणं पुनः। सुहृत्सम्बन्धिवर्गाणां ततो दद्याज्जलाञ्जलिम्॥
Having offered oblations of water first to the ancestors of his race, one should next offer such oblations to his departed friends and relatives.
कल्माषगोयुगेनाथ युक्तेन तरतो जलम्। पितरोऽभिलषन्ते वै नावं चाप्यधिरोहिताः॥
When one crosses a river on a car to which is yoked a couple of oxen of variegated colour, or from them that cross a river on boats, the departed Manes expect oblations of water.
सदा नावि जलं तज्ज्ञाः प्रयच्छन्ति समाहिताः। मासार्धं कृष्णपक्षस्य कुर्यान्निर्वपणानि वै॥
Those who know this always offer oblations of water with rapt attention to the departed Manes. Every fortnight, on the day of the New Moon, one should make offerings to his departed ancestors.
पुष्टिरायुस्तथा वीर्यं श्रीश्चैव पितृभक्तितः। पितामहः पुलस्त्यश्च वसिष्ठः पुलहस्तथा॥ अङ्गिराश्च क्रतुश्चैव कश्यपश्च महानृषिः। एते कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ महायोगेश्वराः स्मृताः॥
Growth, longevity, energy, and prosperity became all attainable through devotion to the departea Manes. The Grandfather Brahman, Pulastya, Vasishtha, Pulaha, Angirasa, Kratu, and the great Rishi Kashyapa, these O prince of Kuru's race, are considered as great masters of Yoga.
एते च पितरो राजन्नेष श्राद्धविधिः परः। प्रेतास्तु पिण्डसम्बन्धान्मुच्यन्ते तेन कर्मणा॥
They are numbered among the departed Manes. Even this is the high ritual in the matter of Shraddha, O king. Through Shraddhas performed on Earth, the deceased members of his race become freed from a poison of misery.
इत्येषा पुरुषश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धोत्पत्तिर्यथागमम्। व्याख्याता पूर्वनिर्दिष्टा दानं वक्ष्याम्यतः परम्॥
I have thus, O prince of Kuru's explained to you, according to the scriptures, the ordinances relating to Shraddhas. I shall one more discourse to you on gifts. race