विष्णुपुराणम् — तृतीयांशे चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

और्व उवाच ।

ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रनासत्यसूर्याग्निवसुमारुतान् ।
विश्वेदेवान्पितृगणान्वयांसि मनुजान्पशुन् ॥

Summary AI One who performs the śrāddha ceremony with faith pleases Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Nāsatya twins, Sūrya, Agni, the Vasus, the Maruts, the Viśvedevas, the ancestral manes (pitṛs), birds, humans, and animals.

३.१४.२

सरीसृपानृषिगणान्यच्चान्यद्भूत संज्ञितम् ।
श्राद्धं श्रद्धान्वितः कुर्वन्प्रीणयत्यखिलं जगत् ॥

Summary AI Furthermore, the performer of śrāddha satisfies reptiles, groups of sages, and whatever else is known as a living being, thereby pleasing the entire universe.

३.१४.३

मासिमास्यसिते पक्षे पञ्चदश्यां नरेश्वर ।
दथाष्टकासु कुर्वीत काम्यान्कालाञ्छृणुष्व मे ॥

Summary AI O King, one should perform śrāddha every month on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight, as well as on the aṣṭakā days. Now, listen to me describe the specific times for optional or desire-based offerings.

३.१४.४

श्राद्धार्हमागतं द्रव्यं विशिष्टमथ वा द्विजम् ।
श्राद्धं कुर्वीत विज्ञाय व्यतीपाते ऽयते तथा ॥

Summary AI One should perform śrāddha upon obtaining wealth suitable for the ceremony or meeting an eminent brāhmaṇa, and also during the vyatīpāta yoga and the solstices (ayana).

३.१४.५

विषुवे चापि संप्राप्ते ग्रहणे शशि सूर्ययोः ।
समस्तेष्वेव भूपाल राशिष्वर्के च गच्छति ॥

Summary AI O Protector of the Earth, śrāddha should be performed during the equinoxes, during lunar and solar eclipses, and when the Sun transitions into any of the zodiac signs.

३.१४.६

नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने ।
इच्छाश्राद्धानि कुर्वीत नवसस्यागमे तथा ॥

Summary AI One should perform voluntary śrāddha ceremonies during the afflictions of stars and planets, after seeing bad dreams, and upon the arrival of the new harvest.

३.१४.७

अमावास्या यदा मैत्रविशाखास्वातियोगिनी ।
श्रीद्धैः पितृगणस्तृप्तिं तथाप्नोत्यष्टवार्षिकीम् ॥

Summary AI When the new moon day (amāvāsyā) coincides with the constellations Anurādhā (Maitra), Viśākhā, or Svātī, the ancestors attain satisfaction from the śrāddha offerings for eight years.

३.१४.८

अमवास्या यदा पुष्ये रौद्रेथर्क्षे पुनर्वसौ ।
द्वादशाब्दं तदा तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति पिरतोर्चिताः ॥

Summary AI When the new moon falls on Puṣya, Ārdrā (Raudra), or Punarvasu, the worshipped ancestors remain satisfied for twelve years.

३.१४.९

वासवाजैकपादर्क्षे पितणां तृप्तिमिच्छताम् ।
वारुणे वाप्यमावास्या देवानामपि दुर्लभा ॥

Summary AI For those desiring the satisfaction of their ancestors, a new moon occurring during the asterisms of Dhaniṣṭhā (Vāsava), Pūrvabhādrapadā (Ajaikapad), or Śatabhiṣaj (Vāruṇa) is rare even for the gods.

३.१४.१०

नवस्वृक्षेष्वमावास्या यदैतेष्ववनीपते ।
तदा हि तृप्तिदं श्राद्धं पितॄणां शृणु चापरम् ॥

Summary AI O Lord of the Earth, when the new moon coincides with any of these nine constellations, the śrāddha performed then provides great satisfaction to the ancestors. Now, hear about other such times.

३.१४.११

गीतं सनत्कुमारेण यथैलान महात्मने ।
पृच्छते पितृभक्ताय प्रश्रयावनाताय च ॥

Summary AI Listen to what was sung by Sanatkumāra to the high-souled Purūravas (son of Iḷā), who was devoted to his ancestors and asked him while bowing with humility.

सनत्कुमार उवाच ।

३.१४.१२

वैशाखमासस्य च या तृतीया
नवम्यसौ कर्तिकशुक्लपक्षे ।
नभस्यमासस्य च कृष्णपक्षे
त्रयोदशी पञ्चदशी च माघे ॥

Summary AI The third day of the month of Vaiśākha, the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Kārttika, the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Nabhasya (Bhādrapada), and the fifteenth day of Māgha.

३.१४.१३

एता युगाद्याः कथिताः पुराणे-
ष्वनन्तपुण्यास्तिथ यश्चतस्त्रः ।
उपप्लवे चन्द्रमसो रवेश्च
त्रिष्वष्टकास्वप्ययनद्वये च ॥

Summary AI These four dates are declared in the Purāṇas as the beginnings of the Yugas (yugādyā), possessing infinite merit. Śrāddha should also be performed during eclipses, on the three aṣṭakā days, and during the two solstices.

३.१४.१४

पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं
दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः ।
श्राद्धं कृते तेन समासहस्रं
रहस्यमेतत्पितरो वदन्ति ॥

Summary AI On these occasions, a self-controlled person should offer even just water mixed with sesame seeds to the ancestors. The ancestors declare this secret: by such an act, it is as if śrāddha was performed for a thousand years.

३.१४.१५

माघे ऽसिति पञ्चदशी कदाचि-
दुपैति योगं यदि वारुणेन ।
ऋक्षेण कालःस परः पितॄणां
न ह्यल्पपुण्यैर्नृप लभ्यतेसौ ॥

Summary AI O King, if the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of Māgha coincides with the asterism Śatabhiṣaj (Vāruṇa), it is a supreme time for the ancestors, unattainable by those with little merit.

३.१४.१६

काले धनिष्ठा यदि नाम तस्मि-
न्भवेत्तु भूपाल तदा पितृभ्यः ।
दत्तं जलान्नं प्रददाति तृप्तिं
वर्षायुतं तत्कुलजैर्मनुष्यैः ॥

Summary AI O King, if the constellation Dhaniṣṭhā prevails at that time, then the water and food offered by descendants to their ancestors provides satisfaction for ten thousand years.

३.१४.१७

तत्रैव चेद्भाद्रपदानुपूर्वाः
काले यथावत्क्रियते पितृभ्यः ।
श्राद्धं परां तृप्तिमुपैति तेन
युगं सहस्रं पितरःस्वपन्ति ॥

Summary AI If the Pūrvabhādrapadā constellation occurs at that same time and śrāddha is performed duly, the ancestors attain supreme satisfaction and rest peacefully for a thousand yugas.

३.१४.१८

गङ्गां शतद्रूं यमुनां विपाशां
सरस्वतीं नैमिशगोमतीं वा ।
तत्रावगाह्यर्चनमादरेण
कृत्वा पितॄणां दुरितानि हन्ति ॥

Summary AI By bathing in the Gaṅgā, Śatadrū, Yamunā, Vipāśā, Sarasvatī, or the Gomatī at Naimiṣa, and performing the worship of ancestors with devotion, one destroys all sins.

३.१४.१९

गायन्ति चैतत्पितरः कदानु
हर्षादमी तृप्तिमवाप्य भूयः ।
माघासितान्ते शुभतीर्थतोयै-
र्यास्याम तृप्तिं तनयादिदत्तैः ॥

Summary AI The ancestors sing: "When will we, having already attained satisfaction, again receive offerings of auspicious holy waters from our descendants at the end of the dark fortnight of Māgha and experience joy?"

३.१४.२०

चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां विशुद्धं
शस्तं च कालः कथितो विधिश्च ।
पात्रं यथोक्तं परमा च भक्ति-
र्नृणां प्रयच्छन्त्यभिवाञ्छितानि ॥

Summary AI A pure mind, honestly earned wealth, an auspicious time, the prescribed procedure, a worthy recipient, and supreme devotion—these factors together grant all the desires of human beings.

३.१४.२१

पितृगीतान्ततैवात्र श्लोकांस्तञ्छृणु पार्थिव ।
श्रुत्वा तथैव भवता भाव्यं तत्रादृतात्मना ॥

Summary AI O King, hear those verses from the song of the ancestors. Having heard them, you should act accordingly with a devoted heart.

३.१४.२२

अपि धन्यः कुले जायादस्माकं मतिमान्नरः ।
अकुर्वन्वित्तशाठ्यं यः पिण्डान्नो निर्वपिष्यति ॥

Summary AI May a wise and blessed man be born in our lineage who, without deceit in spending wealth, will offer piṇḍas to us.

३.१४.२३

रत्नं वस्त्रं महायानं सर्वभोगादिकंवसु ।
विभवे सति विप्रेभ्यो योस्मानुद्दिश्य दास्यति ॥

Summary AI He who, possessing wealth, shall bestow gems, clothes, great vehicles, and various enjoyable riches upon Brāhmaṇas on our behalf.

३.१४.२४

अन्नेन वा यथाशक्त्या कालेस्मिन्भक्तिनम्रधीः ।
भोजयिष्यति विप्राग्र्यांस्तन्मात्रविभवो नरः ॥

Summary AI Or a man of limited means, with a mind humbled by devotion, who shall feed the eminent Brāhmaṇas with food according to his capacity at this time.

३.१४.२५

असमर्थोन्नदानस्य धान्यमामं स्वशक्तितः ।
प्रदास्यति द्विजाग्रेभ्यः स्वल्पाल्पां वापि दक्षिणाम् ॥

Summary AI If unable to give cooked food, he shall provide raw grain and even a very small monetary gift to the best of the twice-born according to his strength.

३.१४.२६

तत्राप्यसामर्थ्ययुतः कराग्राग्रस्थितांस्तिलान् ।
प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्याय कस्मैचिद्भूप दास्यति ॥

Summary AI O King, even if lacking that capacity, one should offer sesame seeds held at the very tips of his fingers to some eminent Brāhmaṇa after prostrating.

३.१४.२७

तिलैः सप्ताष्टभिर्वापि समवेतं जलाञ्जलिम् ।
भक्तिनम्रः समुद्दिश्य भुव्यस्माकं प्रदास्यति ॥

Summary AI Humbled by devotion, he shall offer on the earth a handful of water mixed with even seven or eight sesame seeds intended for us.

३.१४.२८

यतः कुताश्चित्संप्राप्य गोभ्यो वापि गवाह्निकम् ।
अभावे प्रीणयन्नस्माञ्च्छ्रद्धायुक्तः प्रदास्यति ॥

Summary AI In the absence of resources, one full of faith shall please us by providing a day's fodder for cows, having obtained it from anywhere.

३.१४.२९

सर्वाभावे वनं गत्वा कक्षमूलप्रदर्शकः ।
सूर्यादिलोकपालानामिदमुच्चेर्वदिष्यति ॥

Summary AI In the absence of everything, going to the forest and exposing his armpits, he shall loudly say this to the Sun and other guardians of the world.

३.१४.३०

न मे ऽस्ति वित्तं न धनं च नान्य-
च्छ्राद्धोपयोग्यं स्वपितॄन्नतोस्मि ।
तृप्यन्तु भक्तया पितरो मयैतौ
कृतौ भुजौ वर्त्मनि मारुतस्य ॥

Summary AI I have no wealth, no property, nor anything else fit for a śrāddha; I bow to my ancestors. May the ancestors be satisfied with my devotion; I have raised my arms in the path of the wind.

और्व उवाच ।

३.१४.३१

इत्येतत्पितृभिर्गीतं भावाभावप्रयोजनम् ।
यः करोति कृतं तेन श्राद्धं भवति पार्थिव ॥

Summary AI O King, this song concerning the presence or absence of means was sung by the ancestors. For whoever performs this, the śrāddha is deemed accomplished.

इति श्रीविष्णुमहापुराणे तृतीयांशे चतुर्दशो ऽध्यायः ।

औरेव उवाच

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