Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच केन संकल्पितं श्राद्धं कस्मिन्काले किमात्मकम् भृग्वङ्गिरसके काले मुनिना कतरेण वा
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said By whom was the Shraddha first conceived and at what time? What also is its substance? In the time when the world was inhabited by only the descendants of Bhrigu and Angirasa who was the Muni who established the Shraddha?
कानि श्राद्धेषु वर्ज्यानि तथा मूलफलानि च धान्यजातिश्च का वर्ज्या तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: What deeds should not be done at Shraddha? What are those Shraddhas in which fruits and roots are to be offered? What kinds also of paddy should be avoided in Shraddhas? Tell me all this, O grandfather.
भीष्म उवाच यथा श्राद्धं संप्रवृत्तं यस्मिन्काले यदात्मकम् येन संकल्पितं चैव तन्मे शृणु जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Listen to me, O kine, as I tell you how the Shraddha was introduced, the time of such introduction, the essence of the rite, and the ascetic who conceived it.
स्वायंभुवोऽत्रिः कौरव्य परमर्षिः प्रतापवान् तस्य वंशे महाराज दत्तात्रेय इति स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Form the SelfCreate Brahman sprang Atri, O you of Kuru's race. In Atri's family was born a Muni named Dattatreya.
दत्तात्रेयस्य पुत्रोऽभून्निमिर्नाम तपोधनः निमेश्चाप्यभवत्पुत्रः श्रीमान्नाम श्रिया वृतः
M. N. Dutt: Dattatreya got a son named Nimi having asceticism for wealth. Nimi got a son named Shrimat who was gifted with great beauty of person.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते स कृत्वा दुष्करं तपः कालधर्मपरीतात्मा निधनं समुपागतः
M. N. Dutt: Upon the expiration of a full thousand years, Shrimat having practised the practised the severest austerities, yielded to the influence of Time and departed from this world.
निमिस्तु कृत्वा शौचानि विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा संतापमगमत्तीव्रं पुत्रशोकपरायणः
M. N. Dutt: His father Nimi, having performed the purificatoy rites according to sanctioned rites, because stricken with great grief, thinking continually of the loss of his son.
अथ कृत्वोपहार्याणि चतुर्दश्यां महामतिः तमेव गणयञ्शोकं विरात्रे प्रत्यबुध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Thanking of that cause of sorrow, the great Nimi collected together various agreeable objects on the fourteenth day of the moon. The next morning he rose from bed.
तस्यासीत्प्रतिबुद्धस्य शोकेन पिहितात्मनः मनः संहृत्य विषये बुद्धिर्विस्तरगामिनी
M. N. Dutt: Stricken as his heart was with grief, as he rose from sleep that day he succeeded in withdrawing it from the one object upon which it had been working. His mind became busy with other matters.
ततः संचिन्तयामास श्राद्धकल्पं समाहितः यानि तस्यैव भोज्यानि मूलानि च फलानि च
AI Translation: Then, with great concentration, he contemplated the rites for the dead. The roots and fruits that he himself could eat,
उक्तानि यानि चान्यानि यानि चेष्टानि तस्य ह तानि सर्वाणि मनसा विनिश्चित्य तपोधनः
AI Translation: And those other things that he had desired, and those that he had not desired, Having determined all those in his mind, the one rich in austerities,
अमावास्यां महाप्राज्ञ विप्रानानाय्य पूजितान् दक्षिणावर्तिकाः सर्वा बृसीः स्वयमथाकरोत्
M. N. Dutt: On the day of the New Moon he invited a number of worthy Brahmanas. Gifted with great wisdom, Nimi made them sit on seats and honoured them by going round thein.
सप्त विप्रांस्ततो भोज्ये युगपत्समुपानयत् ऋते च लवणं भोज्यं श्यामाकान्नं ददौ प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Approaching seven such Brahmanas whom he had brought to his house together, the powerful Nimi gave them food consisting of Shyamaka rice, unmixed with salt.
दक्षिणाग्रास्ततो दर्भा विष्टरेषु निवेशिताः पादयोश्चैव विप्राणां ये त्वन्नमुपभुञ्जते
M. N. Dutt: Towards the feet of those Brahmanas engaged in eating the food that was served to them a number of Kusha blades was spread out, on the seats they occupied, with the tops of the blades directed towards the south.
कृत्वा च दक्षिणाग्रान्वै दर्भान्सुप्रयतः शुचिः प्रददौ श्रीमते पिण्डं नामगोत्रमुदाहरन्
M. N. Dutt: With a pure body and mind and with rapt attention, Niini, having placed those blades of sacred grass in the way indicated, offered cakes of rice to his dead son, uttering his name and family.
तत्कृत्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठो धर्मसंकरमात्मनः पश्चात्तापेन महता तप्यमानोऽभ्यचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Having done this, that foremost of ascetics became filled with regret at the idea of having done a deed that had not been laid down in any of the scriptures. Indeed, filled with regret, he began to think of what he had done.
Supplementary Passages:
13.91.16 T2.3 G M ins. after 16ab: T1 after 15: *414 बुद्ध्वात्रिं मनसा दध्यौ भगवन्तं समाहितः
अकृतं मुनिभिः पूर्वं किं मयैतदनुष्ठितम् कथं नु शापेन न मां दहेयुर्ब्राह्मणा इति
M. N. Dutt: Never done before by the ascetics, alas, what have I done! How shall I avoid being cursed by the Brahmanas?
ततः संचिन्तयामास वंशकर्तारमात्मनः ध्यातमात्रस्तथा चात्रिराजगाम तपोधनः
M. N. Dutt: He then thought of the original founder of his race. As soon as he was thought of, Atri having penances for wealth came there.
अथात्रिस्तं तथा दृष्ट्वा पुत्रशोकेन कर्शितम् भृशमाश्वासयामास वाग्भिरिष्टाभिरव्ययः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing him greatly stricken with grief consequent on the death of his son, the immortal Atri comforted him with agreeable advice.
निमे संकल्पितस्तेऽयं पितृयज्ञस्तपोधनः मा ते भूद्भीः पूर्वदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: He said to him, O Nimi, this rite that you have conceived, is a sacrifice in honour of the departed Manes. Do not fear, O you, having asceticism for wealth. Formerly the Grandfather Brahman himself laid it down.
सोऽयं स्वयंभुविहितो धर्मः संकल्पितस्त्वया ऋते स्वयंभुवः कोऽन्यः श्राद्धेयं विधिमाहरेत्
M. N. Dutt: This rite that you have conceived, has been ordained by the SelfCreate himself. Who else save the SelfCreate could ordain this ritual in Shraddhas?
आख्यास्यामि च ते भूयः श्राद्धेयं विधिमुत्तमम् स्वयंभुविहितं पुत्र तत्कुरुष्व निबोध मे
M. N. Dutt: I shall now tell you, O son, the excellent ordinance laid down in the Shraddhas. Ordained by the SelfCreate himself, O son follow it. Listen to me first.
कृत्वाग्निकरणं पूर्वं मन्त्रपूर्वं तपोधन ततोऽर्यम्णे च सोमाय वरुणाय च नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Having first performed the Karna on the sacred fire with the help of Mantras, O you having penances for wealth, one should always pour libations next to the god of fire, and Soma, and Varuna.
विश्वेदेवाश्च ये नित्यं पितृभिः सह गोचराः तेभ्यः संकल्पिता भागाः स्वयमेव स्वयंभुवा
M. N. Dutt: The Self Create next ordained a portion of the offerings to the Vishvedevas also, who are always the companions of the departed Manes.
स्तोतव्या चेह पृथिवी निवापस्येह धारिणी वैष्णवी काश्यपी चेति तथैवेहाक्षयेति च
M. N. Dutt: The Earth also, as the goddess who sustains the offerings made at Shraddhas, should then be lauded under the names of Vaishnavi, Kashyapi, and the inexhaustible,
उदकानयने चैव स्तोतव्यो वरुणो विभुः ततोऽग्निश्चैव सोमश्च आप्याय्याविह तेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: When water is being fatched for the Shraddha, the powerful god Varuna should be lauded. After this, both Agni and Soma should be invoked with respect and pleased (with libations), O sinless one.
देवास्तु पितरो नाम निर्मिता वै स्वयंभुवा ऊष्मपाः सुमहाभागास्तेषां भागाः प्रकल्पिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those deities named Pitris were created by the SelfCreate. Others also, highly blessed, viz., the Ushmapas, were created by him. For all these, shares have been sanctioned of the offerings made at Shraddhas.
Supplementary Passages:
13.91.27 D4.6-9 ins. after 27: D5 after 28ab: *415 सोमपाश्च हविष्मन्तस्तथा बर्हिषदा अपि
ते श्राद्धेनार्च्यमाना वै विमुच्यन्ते ह किल्बिषात् सप्तकः पितृवंशस्तु पूर्वदृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
M. N. Dutt: By worshipping all those gods at Shraddhas, the ancestors of the persons performing them become purged of all sins. The departed Manes referred to above as those created by the SelfCreate are seven in number.
विश्वे चाग्निमुखा देवाः संख्याताः पूर्वमेव ते तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि भागार्हाणां महात्मनाम्
M. N. Dutt: The Vishvedevas, having Agni for their mouth, have been mentioned before. I shall now mention the names of those great deities who deserve shares of the offerings made at Shraddhas.
सहः कृतिर्विपाप्मा च पुण्यकृत्पावनस्तथा ग्राम्निः क्षेमः समूहश्च दिव्यसानुस्तथैव च
AI Translation: Sah, Krit, Vippama, Punyakrit, Pavana, Gramani, Ksema, Samuha, Divyasanu,
विवस्वान्वीर्यवान्ह्रीमान्कीर्तिमान्कृत एव च विपूर्वः सोमपूर्वश्च सूर्यश्रीश्चेति नामतः
AI Translation: Vivasvan, the powerful, the modest, the famous, the accomplished, the one with the name beginning with vi, the one with the name beginning with so, and the one with the
सोमपः सूर्यसावित्रो दत्तात्मा पुष्करीयकः उष्णीनाभो नभोदश्च विश्वायुर्दीप्तिरेव च
AI Translation: Soma-drinker, Sun-Savitr, self-given, Pushkariya, Ushninas, Nabhod, Vishvayu, and Dhiiti.
चमूहरः सुवेषश्च व्योमारिः शंकरो भवः ईशः कर्ता कृतिर्दक्षो भुवनो दिव्यकर्मकृत्
AI Translation: The leader of the army, the well-dressed, the enemy of the sky, the auspicious, the being, The lord, the creator, the accomplished, the skillful, the world, the performer of divine deeds,
गणितः पञ्चवीर्यश्च आदित्यो रश्मिमांस्तथा सप्तकृत्सोमवर्चाश्च विश्वकृत्कविरेव च
AI Translation: The one who is counted, the one with five powers, the sun with rays, The one who is seven times the radiance of the moon, the creator, the poet,
अनुगोप्ता सुगोप्ता च नप्ता चेश्वर एव च जितात्मा मुनिवीर्यश्च दीप्तलोमा भयंकरः
AI Translation: Anugopta, Sugopta, Napta, Ishvara, Jitaatma, Munivirya, Diptaloma, Bhayankara,
Supplementary Passages:
13.91.35 After 35ab, T1 ins.: *416 अजो मरीचिरित्येव विश्वेदेवाः सनातनाः
अतिकर्मा प्रतीतश्च प्रदाता चांशुमांस्तथा शैलाभः परमक्रोधी धीरोष्णी भूपतिस्तथा
AI Translation: Ati-karma, Prati-ta, Pra-dāta, and An-shu-mān, Śaila-bha, Parama-kro-dhi, Dhīru-ṣṇi, and Bhū-pati,
स्रजी वज्री वरी चैव विश्वेदेवाः सनातनाः कीर्तितास्ते महाभागाः कालस्य गतिगोचराः
AI Translation: Srajī, Vajrī, Varī, and the eternal Viśvedevas These greatly fortunate ones have been mentioned as the objects of Kāla's movement.
अश्राद्धेयानि धान्यानि कोद्रवाः पुलकास्तथा हिङ्गु द्रव्येषु शाकेषु पलाण्डुं लशुनं तथा
AI Translation: The grains that are not to be eaten are kodrava and pulaka. In the case of spices, it is palaṇḍu and garlic.
पलाण्डुः सौभञ्जनकस्तथा गृञ्जनकादयः कूष्माण्डजात्यलाबुं च कृष्णं लवणमेव च
AI Translation: Shalli, Saubhanjanaka, and Grijjanaka, etc. Kushamanda, Jatila, and black salt.
ग्राम्यं वाराहमांसं च यच्चैवाप्रोक्षितं भवेत् कृष्णाजाजी विडश्चैव शीतपाकी तथैव च अङ्कुराद्यास्तथा वर्ज्या इह शृङ्गाटकानि च
M. N. Dutt: The other articles that should not be offered at Shraddhas are the flesh of the domesticated hog, the meat of all animals not killed at sacrifices, Nigella sativa, salt of the variety called Vid, the potherb that is called Shitapaki, all sprouts and also the Trapa bispinosa. All kinds of salt should be excluded from the offerings made at Shraddhas, and also fruits of the Eugenia Jambolana.
वर्जयेल्लवणं सर्वं तथा जम्बूफलानि च अवक्षुतावरुदितं तथा श्राद्धेषु वर्जयेत्
AI Translation: He should avoid all salt, and also the fruit of the rose-apple tree. He should avoid the uncooked and the wept-over, and also at the śrāddha.
निवापे हव्यकव्ये वा गर्हितं च श्वदर्शनम् पितरश्चैव देवाश्च नाभिनन्दन्ति तद्धविः
M. N. Dutt: Among offerings made to the departed Manes or with the Havya and Kavya offered to the celestials, the potherb called Sudarshana should not be included. Havi mixed with this is not acceptable to the departed Manes.
चण्डालश्वपचौ वर्ज्यौ निवापे समुपस्थिते काषायवासी कुष्ठी वा पतितो ब्रह्महापि वा
AI Translation: The Cāṇḍāla and the Śvapaca should be avoided when the meal is being served. One wearing the saffron robe, or one afflicted with leprosy, or one who has fallen from his vows, or one who has killed a Brahmin,
संकीर्णयोनिर्विप्रश्च संबन्धी पतितश्च यः वर्जनीया बुधैरेते निवापे समुपस्थिते
AI Translation: One who is of mixed birth, a Brahmin, one who is related to a fallen person, These should be avoided by the wise when the time for the funeral rites has come.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भगवान्स्ववंशजमृषिं पुरा पितामहसभां दिव्यां जगामात्रिस्तपोधनः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words formerly to the Rishi Nimi of his own race, the illustrious Atri having penances for wealth then went back to the Grandfather's court in the celestial region.