विष्णुपुराणम् — तृतीयांशे पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेच्छ्रद्धे ।
यद्गुणांस्तान्निभोध मे ॥

Summary AI One should feed Brāhmaṇas during the Śrāddha ceremony; listen to me as I describe the specific qualities they must possess.

३.१५.२

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिमधुस्त्रिसुपर्मःषजङ्गवित् ।
वेदविच्छ्रोत्रियो योगी तथा वै ज्येष्ठसामगः ॥

Summary AI Those commendable for Śrāddha include experts in the Triṇāciketa, Trimadhu, and Trisuparṇa hymns, those who know the six limbs of the Vedas, scholars of the Vedas, Śrotriyas, Yogis, and chanters of the Jyeṣṭha-sāman.

३.१५.३

ऋत्विक्स्वस्त्रेयदौहित्रजामातृश्वशुरास्तथा ।
मातुलोथ तपोनिष्ठः पञ्चाग्न्यभिरतस्तथा ।
शिष्याःसंबन्धिनश्चैव मातापितृरतश्च यः ॥

Summary AI Other suitable invitees include the family priest, a sister's son, a daughter's son, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, a maternal uncle, ascetics, those devoted to the five fires, disciples, relatives, and those devoted to their parents.

३.१५.४

एतान्नियोजयेच्छ्राद्धे पूर्वोक्तान्प्रथमे नृप ।
ब्राह्मणान्पितृतुष्ट्यर्थमनुकल्पेष्वनन्तरान् ॥

Summary AI O King, for the satisfaction of the ancestors, one should primarily appoint the Brāhmaṇas mentioned earlier for the ceremony; in secondary options, other individuals may be selected.

३.१५.५

मित्रध्रुक्कुनखी क्लीबः श्यावदन्तस्तथा द्विजः ।
कन्या दूषयितावह्निवेदोज्झःसोमविक्रयी ॥

Summary AI A person who betrays a friend, one with diseased nails, a eunuch, one with black teeth, a defiler of virgins, one who has abandoned the sacred fire or the Vedas, and a seller of Soma are ineligible.

३.१५.६

अभिशस्तस्तथा स्तेनः पुशुनो ग्रामयाजकः ।
भृतकाध्यापकस्तद्वद्भृतकाध्यापितश्च यः ॥

Summary AI One accused of a serious crime, a thief, a slanderer, a village priest, one who teaches for a salary, and one who is taught by a salaried teacher are also disqualified from the rite.

३.१५.७

परपूर्वापतिश्चैव मातापित्रोस्तथोज्झकः ।
वृषलीसूतिपोष्टा च वृषलीपतिरेव च ॥

Summary AI The husband of a woman previously married to another, one who abandons his parents, one who supports the children of a Śūdra woman, and the husband of a Śūdra woman are unfit for invitation.

३.१५.८

तथा देवलकश्चैव ।
श्राद्धे नार्हति केतनम् ॥

Summary AI Similarly, a temple priest who subsists on the idols (Devalaka) does not deserve an invitation to the Śrāddha ceremony.

३.१५.९

प्रथमेह्नि बुधः शस्ताञ्छ्रोत्रियादीन्निमन्त्रयेत् ।
कथयेच्च तथैवैषां नियोगान्पितृदैविकान् ॥

Summary AI On the preceding day, a wise man should invite commendable Brāhmaṇas like Śrotriyas and clearly explain their specific assignments concerning the ancestors and the gods.

३.१५.१०

ततः क्रोधव्यवायादीनायासं तैर्धिजैः सह ।
यजमानो न कुर्वीत दोषस्तत्र महानयम् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, the host and the invited Brāhmaṇas must avoid anger, sexual intercourse, and physical exertion; failing this is considered a grave transgression.

३.१५.११

श्राद्धे नियुक्तो भुक्त्वा वा भोजयित्वा नियुज्य च ।
व्यवायी रेतसो गर्ते मज्जयत्यात्मनः पितॄन् ॥

Summary AI An invited Brāhmaṇa who has eaten, or a host who has fed and appointed them, sinks his own ancestors into a pit of semen if he engages in sexual intercourse on that day.

३.१५.१२

तस्मात्प्रथममत्रोक्तं द्विजाग्र्याणां निमन्त्रणम् ।
अनिमन्त्र्य द्विजानेवमागतान्भो जयेद्यतीन् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, the formal invitation of eminent Brāhmaṇas is prescribed first; however, one should also feed wandering ascetics who arrive unexpectedly without an invitation.

३.१५.१३

पादशौचादिना गेह- ।
मागतान्पूजयेद्द्धिजान् ॥

Summary AI One should honor the Brāhmaṇas who have arrived at the home by performing rituals such as washing their feet.

३.१५.१४

पवित्रपाणिराचान्तानासनेषूपवेशयेत् ।
पितॄणामयुजो युग्मान्देवाना मिच्छया द्विजान् ॥

Summary AI With purified hands, the host should seat the Brāhmaṇas who have performed ritual rinsing. He should appoint an odd number for the ancestors and an even number for the gods, according to his preference.

३.१५.१५

देवानामेकमेकं वा ।
पितॄणां च नियोजयेत् ॥

Summary AI Alternatively, one may appoint just a single Brāhmaṇa for the gods and one for the ancestors.

३.१५.१६

तथा मातामहश्राद्धं वैश्वदेवसमन्वितम् ।
कुर्वीत भक्तीसंपन्नस्तत्र वा वैश्वदैविकम् ॥

Summary AI A person filled with devotion should similarly perform the Śrāddha for the maternal grandfather along with the Vaiśvadeva rite, or include the Vaiśvadeva offerings within it.

३.१५.१७

प्राङ्मुखान्भोजयेद्विप्रान्देवानामुभयात्मकान् ।
पितॄन्पितामहानां च भोजयेच्चाप्युदङ्मुखान् ॥

Summary AI One should feed the Brāhmaṇas representing the gods while they face the East, and feed those representing the fathers and grandfathers while they face the North.

३.१५.१८

पृथक्तयोः केचिदाहुः श्राद्धस्य करणं नृप ।
एकत्रैकेन पाकेन वदन्त्यन्ये महर्षयः ॥

Summary AI O King, some authorities suggest performing these two Śrāddhas separately, while other great sages state they can be performed together using a single preparation of food.

३.१५.१९

विष्टरार्थं कुशं दत्त्वा संपूज्यार्घ्यं विधानतः ।
कुर्यादावाहनं प्राज्ञो देवानां तदनुज्ञया ॥

Summary AI Having offered Kuśa grass for seating and worshiped with Arghya according to the rules, the wise man should invoke the gods with their permission.

३.१५.२०

यवांबुना च देवानां दद्यादर्घ्यं विधानवित् ।
स्रग्गन्धधूपदीपांश्च तेभ्यो दद्याद्यथाविधि ॥

Summary AI One who knows the ritual procedure should offer Arghya with water and barley to the gods, and then properly present them with garlands, perfumes, incense, and lamps.

३.१५.२१

पितॄणामपसव्यं तत्सर्वमेवोपकल्पयेत् ।
अनुज्ञां च ततः प्राप्य दत्त्वा दर्भन्द्विधाकृतान् ॥

Summary AI One should arrange everything for the ancestors in the apasavya manner. After obtaining permission and offering darbha grass split into two, the ceremony proceeds.

३.१५.२२

मन्त्रपूर्वं पितॄणां तु कुर्याच्चावाहनं बुधः ।
तिलांबुना चापसव्य दद्यादर्घ्यादिकं नृप ॥

Summary AI O King, a wise person should perform the invocation of the pitṛs with the proper mantras and offer arghya and other offerings with water mixed with sesame seeds in the apasavya position.

३.१५.२३

काले तत्रातिथिं प्राप्तमन्नकामं नृपाध्वगम् ।
ब्रह्मणैरभ्यनुज्ञातः कामं तमपि भोजयेत् ॥

Summary AI O King, if a hungry traveler arrives as a guest at that time, the host should, with the permission of the brāhmaṇas, feed him according to his desire.

३.१५.२४

योगिनो विविधै रूपैर्नरामामुपकारीणः ।
भ्रमन्ति पृथिवीमेतामविज्ञातस्वरूपिमः ॥

Summary AI Yogis, who are benefactors of humanity, wander this earth in various forms with their true natures unknown to others.

३.१५.२५

तस्मादभ्यर्चयेत्प्राप्तं श्राद्धकाले ऽतिथिं बुधः ।
श्राद्धक्रियाफलं हॄन्ति नरेद्रापूजितो ऽतिथिः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, a wise man should worship a guest who arrives during the śrāddha ceremony. O King, an unwelcomed guest destroys the fruit of the śrāddha ritual.

३.१५.२६

जुहुयाद्व्यञ्जनक्षारवर्जमन्नं ततो ऽनले ।
अनुज्ञातो द्विजैस्तैस्तु त्रिकृत्वः पुरुषर्षभ ॥

Summary AI O best of men, then, permitted by those brāhmaṇas, one should offer cooked food—excluding salt and condiments—three times into the fire.

३.१५.२७

अग्नये कव्यवाहाय स्वधेत्यादौ नृपाहुतिः ।
सोमाय वै पितृमते दातव्या तदनन्तरम् ॥

Summary AI O King, first an oblation should be offered with the words "Agnaye Kavyavāhāya Svadhā." Following that, an oblation is to be given to Soma, the lord of the pitṛs.

३.१५.२८

वैवस्वताय चैवान्या तृतीया दीयते ततः ।
हुतावशिष्टमल्पान्नं विप्रपात्रेषु निर्वेपेत् ॥

Summary AI Then, a third oblation is offered to Vaivasvata. The small remaining portion of the food offered in the fire should then be placed into the bowls of the brāhmaṇas.

३.१५.२९

ततोन्नं मृष्टमत्यर्थमभीष्टमतिसंस्कृतम् ।
दत्त्वा जुषध्वमिच्छातो वाच्यमेतदनिष्ठुरम् ॥

Summary AI Then, after serving highly purified, desirable, and well-prepared food, one should say gently and kindly, "Please enjoy this as you wish."

३.१५.३०

भोक्तव्यं तैश्च तच्चित्तैर्मौनिभिः सुमुखैः सुखम् ।
अक्रुद्व्यता चात्वरता देयं तेनापि भक्तितः ॥

Summary AI The brāhmaṇas should eat comfortably in silence, with cheerful faces and focused minds. The host, too, should serve them with devotion, without anger or haste.

३.१५.३१

रक्षोघ्रमन्त्रपठनं भूमेरास्तरणं तिलैः ।
कृत्वाध्येयाःस्वपितरस्त एव द्विजसत्तमाः ॥

Summary AI After reciting mantras that destroy demons and scattering sesame seeds on the ground, one should meditate upon those excellent brāhmaṇas as one's own ancestors.

३.१५.३२

पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ।
मम तृप्तिं प्रयान्त्वद्य विप्रदेहेषु संस्थिताः ॥

Summary AI May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, residing within the bodies of these brāhmaṇas, attain satisfaction today.

३.१५.३३

पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ।
मम तृप्तिं प्रयान्त्वद्य होमाप्यायितमूर्तयः ॥

Summary AI May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, whose forms are nourished by the fire-oblations, attain satisfaction today.

३.१५.३४

पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ।
तृप्तिं प्रयातु पिण्डेन मया दत्तेन भूतले ॥

Summary AI May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather attain satisfaction through the piṇḍa offered by me on the ground.

३.१५.३५

पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ।
तृप्तिं प्रयान्तु मे भक्त्या मयैतत्समुदाहृतम् ॥

Summary AI May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather attain satisfaction through my devotion; thus have I declared.

३.१५.३६

मातामहस्तृप्तिमुपैतु तस्य
तथा पिता तस्य पिता ततो ऽन्यः ।
विश्वे च देवाः परमां प्रयान्तु
तृप्तिं प्रणश्यन्तु च यातुधानाः ॥

Summary AI May my maternal grandfather, his father, and his grandfather attain satisfaction. May the Viśvedevas attain supreme satisfaction, and may the demons perish.

३.१५.३७

यज्ञेश्वरो हव्यसमस्तकव्यो
भोक्ताव्ययात्मा हरिरीश्वरो ऽत्र ।
तत्संनिधानादपयान्तु सद्यो
रक्षांस्यशेषण्यसुराश्च सर्वे ॥

Summary AI Hari, the Lord of sacrifice, the consumer of all oblations to gods and ancestors, and the imperishable Soul, is present here. By His presence, may all demons and asuras immediately depart.

३.१५.३८

तृप्तेष्वेतेषु विकिरेदन्नं विप्रेषु भूतले ।
दद्यादाचमनार्थाय तेभ्यो वारी सकृत्सकृत् ॥

Summary AI Once these brāhmaṇas are satisfied, one should scatter food on the ground and provide them water once each for rinsing their mouths.

३.१५.३९

सुतृप्तैस्तैरनुज्ञातःसर्वेणान्नेन भूतले ।
सतिलोन ततः पिण्डान्सम्यग्दद्यात्समाहितः ॥

Summary AI Then, permitted by those well-satisfied brāhmaṇas, the composed host should properly offer the piṇḍas made from all the food mixed with sesame seeds upon the ground.

३.१५.४०

पिरृतीर्थेन सलिलं तथैव सलिलाञ्जलिम् ।
मातामहेभ्यस्तेनैव पिण्डांस्तीर्थेन निर्वपेत् ॥

Summary AI One should offer water and handfuls of water through the pitṛ-tīrtha. The piṇḍas for the maternal ancestors should also be offered using the same tīrtha.

३.१५.४१

दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु पुष्पधूपादिपूजितम् ।
स्वपित्रे प्रथमं पिण्डं दद्यादुच्छिष्टसन्निधौ ॥

Summary AI On darbha grass with tips pointing south, one should offer the first piṇḍa (funeral cake), worshipped with flowers, incense, and other offerings, to their own father in the vicinity of the remains of the sacrificial meal.

३.१५.४२

पितामहाय चैवान्यं तत्पित्रे च तथापरम् ।
दर्भमूले लेपभुजः प्रीणयेल्लेपघर्षणैः ॥

Summary AI Similarly, another piṇḍa should be offered to the grandfather and another to the great-grandfather. At the base of the darbha grass, one should gratify the ancestors who consume the wipes (lepa-bhujaḥ) by wiping the remains from the hand.

३.१५.४३

पिण्डैर्मातामहांस्तद्वद्गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुतैः ।
पूजायित्वा द्विजाग्र्याणां दद्याच्चाचमनं ततः ॥

Summary AI In the same manner, one should gratify the maternal ancestors with piṇḍas accompanied by sandalwood paste, garlands, and other offerings. After worshipping them, water for sipping (ācamana) should be offered to the foremost of the brāhmaṇas.

३.१५.४४

पितृभ्यः प्रथमं भक्त्यातन्मनस्कोनरेश्वर ।
सुस्वधेत्याशिषा युक्तां दद्याच्छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् ॥

Summary AI O King, being focused and devoted, one should first offer dakṣiṇā to the paternal ancestors according to one's capacity, accompanied by the blessing of the word 'susvadhā'.

३.१५.४५

दत्त्वा च दक्षिणां तेभ्यो वाचयेद्वैश्वदेविकान् ।
प्रीयन्तामिहये विश्वेदेवास्तेन इतीरयेत् ॥

Summary AI After giving dakṣiṇā to them, one should address the brāhmaṇas representing the Viśvedevas. One should say, 'May the Viśvedevas present here be satisfied.'

३.१५.४६

तथेति चोक्ते तैर्विप्रैः प्रार्थनीयास्तथासिषः ।
पश्चाद्विसर्जयेद्देवान्पूर्वं पैत्र्यान्महीपते ॥

Summary AI When those brāhmaṇas respond with 'So be it,' one should then request blessings. O King, one should first dismiss the ancestors (pitṛs) and subsequently dismiss the deities (devas).

३.१५.४७

मातामहानामप्येवं सह देवैः क्रमः स्मृतः ।
भोजयेच्च स्वशक्त्या च दाने तद्वद्विसर्जने ॥

Summary AI The same sequence with the deities is prescribed for the maternal ancestors. One should feed them according to one's means, and follow the same order regarding gifts and dismissal.

३.१५.४८

आपादशौचनात्पूर्वं कुर्याद्देवद्विजन्मसु ।
विसर्जनं तु प्रथमं पैत्रं मातामहेषु वै ॥

Summary AI Regarding the brāhmaṇas representing the deities, the rites should begin with washing their feet. Among the maternal ancestors, the dismissal of the paternal line should be performed first.

३.१५.४९

विसर्जयेत्प्रीतिवचःसंमान्याभ्यर्थितास्ततः ।
निवर्तेताभ्यनुज्ञात आद्वारं ताननुव्रजेत् ॥

Summary AI One should dismiss them after honoring them with affectionate words and humble requests. After receiving permission, one should accompany them to the door before returning.

३.१५.५०

ततस्तु वैश्वदेवाख्यं कुर्यान्नित्यक्रियं बुधः ।
भुञ्जीयाच्च समं पूज्य भृत्यबन्धुभिरात्मनः ॥

Summary AI Then, a wise person should perform the daily rite known as Vaiśvadeva. After honoring them, he should eat together with his servants and relatives.

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