Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कीदृशेभ्यः प्रदातव्यं भवेच्छ्राद्धं पितामह द्विजेभ्यः कुरुशार्दूल तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said. You should, O foremnost one of Kuru's race, tell me to what kind of Brahmanas, O grandfather, should the offers made at Shraddhas, be given away.
भीष्म उवाच ब्राह्मणान्न परीक्षेत क्षत्रियो दानधर्मवित् दैवे कर्मणि पित्र्ये तु न्याय्यमाहुः परीक्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The Kshatriya who is conversant with the ordinances about gift, should never examine Brahmanas. In all matters, however, relating to the worship of the deities and the departed Manes, an examination has been said to be proper.
देवताः पूजयन्तीह दैवेनैवेह तेजसा उपेत्य तस्माद्देवेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो दापयेन्नरः
M. N. Dutt: The deities are adored on Earth by men only when they are filled with devotion originating from the celestials themselves. Hence, one should, approaching them, make gifts to all Brahmanas, respecting such gifts as are made to the celestial themselves.
श्राद्धे त्वथ महाराज परीक्षेद्ब्राह्मणान्बुधः कुलशीलवयोरूपैर्विद्ययाभिजनेन च
M. N. Dutt: In Shraddhas, however, O king, the man of intelligence should examine the Brahmanas. Such examination should be about their birth, conduct, age, appearance, and learning.
एषामन्ये पङ्क्तिदूषास्तथान्ये पङ्क्तिपावनाः अपाङ्क्तेयास्तु ये राजन्कीर्तयिष्यामि ताञ्शृणु
M. N. Dutt: Amongst the Brahmanas there are some who pollute the line and some who purify it. Listen to me, O king, as I tell you those Brahmanas are that should be excluded from the line.
कितवो भ्रूणहा यक्ष्मी पशुपालो निराकृतिः ग्रामप्रेष्यो वार्धुषिको गायनः सर्वविक्रयी
AI Translation: Gambler, killer of an embryo, Yakṣī, shepherd, one who has no form, Messenger of the village, usurer, singer, seller of everything,
अगारदाही गरदः कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी सामुद्रिको राजभृत्यस्तैलिकः कूटकारकः
AI Translation: One who burns houses, a butcher, one who eats from a pot, one who sells Soma, A seafarer, a servant of the king, an oil-presser, one who makes false accusations,
पित्रा विवदमानश्च यस्य चोपपतिर्गृहे अभिशस्तस्तथा स्तेनः शिल्पं यश्चोपजीवति
AI Translation: One who is disputing with his father, one who has a paramour in his house, one who is cursed, and one who is a thief, and one who is living by his craft.
पर्वकारश्च सूची च मित्रध्रुक्पारदारिकः अव्रतानामुपाध्यायः काण्डपृष्ठस्तथैव च
AI Translation: The one who is a mountain-maker, the one who is a needle, the one who is a friend-destroyer, the one who is a paramour, The one who is a teacher of those without vows, the one who is a back-biter,
श्वभिर्यश्च परिक्रामेद्यः शुना दष्ट एव च परिवित्तिश्च यश्च स्याद्दुश्चर्मा गुरुतल्पगः कुशीलवो देवलको नक्षत्रैर्यश्च जीवति
AI Translation: One who wanders with dogs, one who is bitten by a dog, One who is a widow, one who has bad skin, one who has intercourse with a teacher's wife, One who is a bad student, one who is a Devavaka, one who lives by astrology,
Supplementary Passages:
13.90.10 After 10, V1 B Dn D5. 8.10 ins.: *409 ईदृशैर्ब्राह्मणैर्भुक्तमपाङ्क्तेयैर्युधिष्ठिर रक्षांसि गच्छते हव्यमित्याहुर्ब्रह्मवादिनः श्राद्धं भुक्त्वा त्वधीयीत वृषलीतल्पगश्च यः पुरीषे तस्य तं मासं पितरस्तस्य शेरते सोमविक्रयिणे विष्ठा भिषजे पूयशोणितम् नष्टं देवलके दत्तमप्रतिष्ठं च वार्धुषे यत्तु वाणिजके दत्तं नेह नामुत्र तद्भवेत् भस्मनीव हुतं हव्यं तथा पौनर्भवे द्विजे ये तु धर्मव्यपेतेषु चारित्रापगतेषु च हव्यं कव्यं प्रयच्छन्ति तेषां तत्प्रेत्य नश्यति ज्ञानपूर्वं तु ये तेभ्यः प्रयच्छन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः पुरीषं भुञ्जते तस्य पितरः प्रेत्य निश्चयः
एतानिह विजानीयादपाङ्क्तेयान्द्विजाधमान् शूद्राणामुपदेशं च ये कुर्वन्त्यल्पचेतसः
M. N. Dutt: That littlewitted man who makes gifts of such articles to such men knowing their dispositions, obliges, by such conduct, his departed Manes to eat human excreta in the next world.
षष्टिं काणः शतं षण्ढः श्वित्री यावत्प्रपश्यति पङ्क्त्यां समुपविष्टायां तावद्दूषयते नृप
M. N. Dutt: You should know that these wretched Brahmanas deserve to be excluded from the line. Those Brahmanas also of little energy who are engaged in instructing Shudras belong to the same class.
यद्वेष्टितशिरा भुङ्क्ते यद्भुङ्क्ते दक्षिणामुखः सोपानत्कश्च यद्भुङ्क्ते सर्वं विद्यात्तदासुरम्
M. N. Dutt: A Brahmana who is blind stains sixty individuals of the line, one who is destitute of manly powers stains a hundred; while one who is afflicted with white leprosy stains as many as he looks upon, O king.
असूयता च यद्दत्तं यच्च श्रद्धाविवर्जितम् सर्वं तदसुरेन्द्राय ब्रह्मा भागमकल्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever offerings made at Shraddhas are eaten by one with his head wrapped round with a cloth, whatever is eaten by one with face southwards, and whatever is eaten with shoes or sandals on, all goes to please the Asuras.
श्वानश्च पङ्क्तिदूषाश्च नावेक्षेरन्कथंचन तस्मात्परिवृते दद्यात्तिलांश्चान्ववकीरयेत्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever, again is given with malice, and whatever is given without respect, have been ordained by Brahman himself as the portion of the king of Asuras (viz., Bali.)
तिलादाने च क्रव्यादा ये च क्रोधवशा गणाः यातुधानाः पिशाचाश्च विप्रलुम्पन्ति तद्धविः
M. N. Dutt: Dogs, and such Brahmanas as are polluters of lines, should not be suffered to look upon the offerings made at Shraddhas performed at a place that is properly hedged around or concealed from the view. That spot should also be covered with sesame seeds.
Supplementary Passages:
13.90.16 For 16ab, V1 B Dn D5.10 subst.: *410 तिलैर्विरहितं श्राद्धं कृतं क्रोधवशेन च
यावद्ध्यपङ्क्त्यः पङ्क्त्यां वै भुञ्जानाननुपश्यति तावत्फलाद्भ्रंशयति दातारं तस्य बालिशम्
M. N. Dutt: That Shraddha which is done without sesame seeds, or that which is done by a person in anger, has its Havi robbed by Rakshasas and Pishachas.
इमे तु भरतश्रेष्ठ विज्ञेयाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः ये त्वतस्तान्प्रवक्ष्यामि परीक्षस्वेह तान्द्विजान्
M. N. Dutt: According to the number of Brahmanas seen by one who deserves to be excluded from the line, is the loss of merit he causes of the foolish perforiner of the Shraddha who invites him to the feast.
वेदविद्याव्रतस्नाता ब्राह्मणाः सर्व एव हि पाङ्क्तेयान्यांस्तु वक्ष्यामि ज्ञेयास्ते पङ्क्तिपावनाः
AI Translation: All the Brahmanas who have studied the Vedas, who have taken the vows and who have taken the bath, I shall describe the Paṅktyānas. They are to be known as
Supplementary Passages:
13.90.19 After 19ab, B1 Dn1.n2 D5.8 ins.: *411 सदाचारपराश्चैव विज्ञेयाः सर्वपावनाः
त्रिणाचिकेतः पञ्चाग्निस्त्रिसुपर्णः षडङ्गवित् ब्रह्मदेयानुसंतानश्छन्दोगो ज्येष्ठसामगः
AI Translation: Triṇāchiketa, Pañcāgni, Trisuparṇa, knower of the six limbs, Brahmadeya, Anusantāna, Chāndoga, knower of the highest Sāman,
मातापित्रोर्यश्च वश्यः श्रोत्रियो दशपूरुषः ऋतुकालाभिगामी च धर्मपत्नीषु यः सदा वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातो विप्रः पङ्क्तिं पुनात्युत
AI Translation: One who is under the control of his parents, a learned Brahmin, one who approaches his wife during the proper season, and one who is always devoted to his Dharma-wife, A Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas, who is devoted to his vows, and who is purified by his observances, purifies the row.
अथर्वशिरसोऽध्येता ब्रह्मचारी यतव्रतः सत्यवादी धर्मशीलः स्वकर्मनिरतश्च यः
AI Translation: One who studies the Atharva Veda, a celibate, one of restrained vows, One who is truthful, virtuous, and devoted to one's own duty,
ये च पुण्येषु तीर्थेषु अभिषेककृतश्रमाः मखेषु च समन्त्रेषु भवन्त्यवभृथाप्लुताः
AI Translation: Those who have made an effort to bathe in the sacred places, and those who have been immersed in the sacrificial rites and in the mantras,
अक्रोधना अचपलाः क्षान्ता दान्ता जितेन्द्रियाः सर्वभूतहिता ये च श्राद्धेष्वेतान्निमन्त्रयेत् एतेषु दत्तमक्षय्यमेते वै पङ्क्तिपावनाः
AI Translation: Those who are not angry, not fickle, patient, disciplined, with senses controlled, And those who are benevolent towards all beings, invite them to the śrāddhas. What is given to them is inexhaustible. They purify the rows.
इमे परे महाराज विज्ञेयाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः यतयो मोक्षधर्मज्ञा योगाः सुचरितव्रताः
AI Translation: These, great king, should be known as the purifiers of the row, The ascetics who know the Dharma of liberation, the yogis who are of good conduct and vows,
Supplementary Passages:
13.90.25 After 25, S ins.: *412 पञ्चरात्रविदो मुख्यास्तथा भागवताः परे वैखानसाः कुलश्रेष्ठा वैदिकाचारचारिणः
ये चेतिहासं प्रयताः श्रावयन्ति द्विजोत्तमान् ये च भाष्यविदः केचिद्ये च व्याकरणे रताः
AI Translation: Those who, with effort, narrate the history to the best of Brahmins, Those who are learned in grammar, and those who are engaged in grammar,
अधीयते पुराणं ये धर्मशास्त्राण्यथापि च अधीत्य च यथान्यायं विधिवत्तस्य कारिणः
AI Translation: Those who study the Puranas and the Dharma Shastras, and having studied them according to the proper method, perform them according to the rules,
उपपन्नो गुरुकुले सत्यवादी सहस्रदः अग्र्यः सर्वेषु वेदेषु सर्वप्रवचनेषु च
AI Translation: He was born in a teacher's household, a truth-speaker, a thousand-giver, The foremost in all the Vedas and all the teachings.
यावदेते प्रपश्यन्ति पङ्क्त्यास्तावत्पुनन्त्युत ततो हि पावनात्पङ्क्त्याः पङ्क्तिपावन उच्यते
AI Translation: As long as they see these rows, they purify. Therefore, because of the purification from the rows, he is called the purifier of the rows.
क्रोशादर्धतृतीयात्तु पावयेदेक एव हि ब्रह्मदेयानुसंतान इति ब्रह्मविदो विदुः
AI Translation: From a distance of half a krośa, one should purify oneself alone. This is known by those who know Brahman as the continuation of what is given to Brahman.
अनृत्विगनुपाध्यायः स चेदग्रासनं व्रजेत् ऋत्विग्भिरननुज्ञातः पङ्क्त्या हरति दुष्कृतम्
AI Translation: If he goes to the front seat without a priest or a teacher, and if he takes away the sin of the row without being permitted by the priests.
अथ चेद्वेदवित्सर्वैः पङ्क्तिदोषैर्विवर्जितः न च स्यात्पतितो राजन्पङ्क्तिपावन एव सः
AI Translation: But if he is learned in the Vedas and free from all faults of the row, And is not fallen, O king, he is indeed the purifier of the row.
Supplementary Passages:
13.90.32 For 32ab, D4-9 subst.: *413 अथर्ववेदवित्सर्वं पङ्क्तिदोषं व्यपानुदेत् वेदशास्त्रविदं विप्रं सर्वदोषैर्विवर्जितम्
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन परीक्ष्यामन्त्रयेद्द्विजान् स्वकर्मनिरतान्दान्तान्कुले जातान्बहुश्रुतान्
AI Translation: Therefore, one should invite the twice-born ones with all effort, having examined them, who are devoted to their own duties, controlled, born in a good family, and learned.
यस्य मित्रप्रधानानि श्राद्धानि च हवींषि च न प्रीणाति पितॄन्देवान्स्वर्गं च न स गच्छति
M. N. Dutt: He who performs Shraddhas for feeding only his friends and whose Havi does not please the celestials and the departed Manes, fails to ascend to Heaven.
यश्च श्राद्धे कुरुते संगतानि; न देवयानेन पथा स याति स वै मुक्तः पिप्पलं बन्धनाद्वा; स्वर्गाल्लोकाच्च्यवते श्राद्धमित्रः
AI Translation: He who performs the Śrāddha rites, he does not go by the path of the gods. He is released from the bonds of Pippala, and from the world of heaven, he falls, being a friend of Śrāddha.
तस्मान्मित्रं श्राद्धकृन्नाद्रियेत; दद्यान्मित्रेभ्यः संग्रहार्थं धनानि यं मन्यते नैव शत्रुं न मित्रं; तं मध्यस्थं भोजयेद्धव्यकव्ये
AI Translation: Therefore, one should not disrespect a friend who performs śrāddha. One should give wealth to friends for the purpose of reconciliation. One should feed the neutral person in the offering of oblations and oblations, whom one considers neither an enemy nor a friend.
यथोषरे बीजमुप्तं न रोहे;न्न चास्योप्ता प्राप्नुयाद्बीजभागम् एवं श्राद्धं भुक्तमनर्हमाणै;र्न चेह नामुत्र फलं ददाति
AI Translation: Just as a seed sown in a barren field does not grow, and the sower does not receive his share of the seed, so a Śrāddha enjoyed by those who are not worthy does
ब्राह्मणो ह्यनधीयानस्तृणाग्निरिव शाम्यति तस्मै श्राद्धं न दातव्यं न हि भस्मनि हूयते
M. N. Dutt: As seed sown on a barren soil does not sprout forth, or as one who has not sown does not get a share of the produce, so that Shraddha the offerings in which are eaten by an unworthy person, yields no fruit either in this : world or in the next.
संभोजनी नाम पिशाचदक्षिणा; सा नैव देवान्न पितॄनुपैति इहैव सा भ्राम्यति क्षीणपुण्या; शालान्तरे गौरिव नष्टवत्सा
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who is destitute of Vedic study, is like a fire made by burning grass or straw; and becomes soon put out even like such a fire. The offerings inade at Shraddhas should not be given to him even as libations should not be poured on the ashes of the sacrificial fire.
यथाग्नौ शान्ते घृतमाजुहोति; तन्नैव देवान्न पितॄनुपैति तथा दत्तं नर्तने गायने च; यां चानृचे दक्षिणामावृणोति
M. N. Dutt: When the offerings made at Shraddhas are exchanged by the performers with one another, they become Pishacha presents. Such offerings please neither the gods nor the departed Manes, Instead of reaching the other world, they wander about even here like a cow which has lost her calf wandering about within the fold.
उभौ हिनस्ति न भुनक्ति चैषा; या चानृचे दक्षिणा दीयते वै आघातनी गर्हितैषा पतन्ती; तेषां प्रेतान्पातयेद्देवयानात्
M. N. Dutt: As those libations of clarified butter that are poured upon the extinguished ashes of a sacrificial fire never reach either the gods or the departed Manes, similarly a gift that is inade to a dancer or a singer or a Dakshina presented to a lying or deceitful person, yields no merit.
ऋषीणां समयं नित्यं ये चरन्ति युधिष्ठिर निश्चिताः सर्वधर्मज्ञास्तान्देवा ब्राह्मणान्विदुः
M. N. Dutt: The present that is given to a lying or deceitful person destroys both the giver and the receiver without benefiting them in any way. Such a present is destructive and highly censurable. The Pitris of the person making it have to fall down form the celestial path.
स्वाध्यायनिष्ठा ऋषयो ज्ञाननिष्ठास्तथैव च तपोनिष्ठाश्च बोद्धव्याः कर्मनिष्ठाश्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: The gods know thein to he Brahmanas who always walk, O Yudhishthira, within the limits set up by the Rishis who know all duties, and who have a firm faith in their efficacy.
कव्यानि ज्ञाननिष्ठेभ्यः प्रतिष्ठाप्यानि भारत तत्र ये ब्राह्मणाः केचिन्न निन्दति हि ते वराः
M. N. Dutt: Those Brahmanas who are given to Vedic study, to knowledge, to penances, and to acts, O Bharata, should be known as Rishis.
ये तु निन्दन्ति जल्पेषु न ताञ्श्राद्धेषु भोजयेत् ब्राह्मणा निन्दिता राजन्हन्युस्त्रिपुरुषं कुलम्
M. N. Dutt: The offerings made at Shraddhas, should be given to those who are devoted to knowledge. Indeed, they are to be considered as men who never speak ill of the Brahmanas.
वैखानसानां वचनमृषीणां श्रूयते नृप दूरादेव परीक्षेत ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् प्रियान्वा यदि वा द्वेष्यांस्तेषु तच्छ्राद्धमावपेत्
M. N. Dutt: Those men should never be fed on occasions of Shraddhas who speak ill of Brahmanas in course of conversation in the midst of conclaves. If Brahmanas, O king, be vilified, they would destroy three generations of the calumniator.
यः सहस्रं सहस्राणां भोजयेदनृचां नरः एकस्तान्मन्त्रवित्प्रीतः सर्वानर्हति भारत
M. N. Dutt: This is saying, O king, of the Vaikhanasa Rishis. Brahmanas knowing the Vedas should be examined from a distance. Whether one likes them or not, one should give to such Brahmanas the offerings made at Shraddhas. That man who feeds thousands upon thousands of unworthy Brahmanas acquires merit that is attainable by feeding even one Brahmana if the latter happens to be endued with a knowledge of the Vedas, o Bharata!