Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच तथा विधौ प्रवृत्ते तु सर्व एव महर्षयः पितृयज्ञानकुर्वन्त विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: Performing all duties, the Rishis, having performed Shraddhas, began to also offer oblations of sacred waters, with attention.
निवापैर्दीयमानैश्च चातुर्वर्ण्येन भारत तर्पिताः पितरो देवास्ते नान्नं जरयन्ति वै
M. N. Dutt: On account, however, of the offerings made by persons of all classes, the departed Manes began to digest that food.
अजीर्णेनाभिहन्यन्ते ते देवाः पितृभिः सह सोममेवाभ्यपद्यन्त निवापान्नाभिपीडिताः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
तेऽब्रुवन्सोममासाद्य पितरोऽजीर्णपीडिताः निवापान्नेन पीड्यामः श्रेयो नोऽत्र विधीयताम्
AI Translation: They said to Soma, "We, the Pitrs, are afflicted by indigestion. We are afflicted by the oblations of food. Let a remedy be prescribed for us."
तान्सोमः प्रत्युवाचाथ श्रेयश्चेदीप्सितं सुराः स्वयंभूसदनं यात स वः श्रेयो विधास्यति
AI Translation: Soma replied to them, "O gods, if you desire welfare, go to the abode of Svayambhu. He will grant you welfare."
ते सोमवचनाद्देवाः पितृभिः सह भारत मेरुशृङ्गे समासीनं पितामहमुपागमन्
AI Translation: At the words of Soma, the gods, along with the ancestors, O descendant of Bharata, approached the grandfather seated on the peak of Meru.
पितर ऊचुः निवापान्नेन भगवन्भृशं पीड्यामहे वयम् प्रसादं कुरु नो देव श्रेयो नः संविधीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: 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 स्वयंभूरिदमब्रवीत् एष मे पार्श्वतो वह्निर्युष्मच्छ्रेयो विधास्यति
M. N. Dutt: 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.
अग्निरुवाच सहितास्तात भोक्ष्यामो निवापे समुपस्थिते जरयिष्यथ चाप्यन्नं मया सार्धं न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: 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 विज्वराभवन् एतस्मात्कारणाच्चाग्नेः प्राक्तनं दीयते नृप
M. N. Dutt: 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 चाग्निपूर्वे वै निवापे पुरुषर्षभ न ब्रह्मराक्षसास्तं वै निवापं धर्षयन्त्युत रक्षांसि चापवर्तन्ते स्थिते देवे विभावसौ
M. N. Dutt: 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.
पूर्वं पिण्डं पितुर्दद्यात्ततो दद्यात्पितामहे प्रपितामहाय च तत एष श्राद्धविधिः स्मृतः
AI Translation: First give the ball to the father, then give it to the grandfather, and then to the great-grandfather. This is said to be the procedure for Śrāddha.
ब्रूयाच्छ्राद्धे च सावित्रीं पिण्डे पिण्डे समाहितः सोमायेति च वक्तव्यं तथा पितृमतेति च
AI Translation: At the śrāddha, he should recite the Sāvitrī with concentration, at each ball of rice. "He should say, ""To Soma,"" and also ""To the father
रजस्वला च या नारी व्यङ्गिता कर्णयोश्च या निवापे नोपतिष्ठेत संग्राह्या नान्यवंशजाः
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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 सुहृत्संबन्धिवर्गाणां ततो दद्याज्जलाञ्जलिम्
M. N. Dutt: 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 चाप्यधिरोहतः सदा नावि जलं तज्ज्ञाः प्रयच्छन्ति समाहिताः
M. N. Dutt: 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.
मासार्धे कृष्णपक्षस्य कुर्यान्निवपनानि वै पुष्टिरायुस्तथा वीर्यं श्रीश्चैव पितृवर्तिनः
AI Translation: One should perform the Nivapana rites in the dark fortnight of a month. Prosperity, longevity, vigor, and glory are for those who serve the ancestors.
पितामहः पुलस्त्यश्च वसिष्ठः पुलहस्तथा अङ्गिराश्च क्रतुश्चैव कश्यपश्च महानृषिः एते कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ महायोगेश्वराः स्मृताः
M. N. Dutt: 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 पिण्डसंबन्धान्मुच्यन्ते तेन कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: 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 ख्यापिता पूर्वनिर्दिष्टा दानं वक्ष्याम्यतः परम्
M. N. Dutt: 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