Bruhaspati Said:
1. Henceforth, I shall recount the various types of Dānas (religious gifts) and the benefits thereof. I shall also mention the pure things to be used in the Shraddha rite and those that should be avoided.
2. It should be performed on snow-capped precipice (?) or he should also bring snow from there (?). Hence Agnihotra is laid down (in the scriptures) as the greatest and holiest.
3. One shall avoid Shraddha-performance during the night. On other occasions also, since Rahu is seen, one should quickly perform Shraddha as soon as Rahu is seen1 even by spending one’s. entire possession.
1. Cf. Bd.P. 2.3.14. 3-4, KP. II, 16.8; Brahma P. 220-51-54 Eclipses are the proper times for Kämya Shraddhas.
4. He who does not perform Shraddha at the time of eclipse becomes distressed like the cow (stuck up) in mire. He who performs it, uplifts sinners like a boat in the ocean that saves those who are drowning.
5. During the sacrifice to Viśhvedevas and Saumyas, the Havis can contain plenty of meat. But one should avoid the horn of the rhinoceros to mitigate the malice (of Pitris) (?)
6-8. Formerly while Tvaşhtr was being prevented by the noble-souled Lord of Devas from drinking the Soma juice meant for Indra, the consort of Shachi, it (some part or drops of Soma) fell on the ground. Syāmākas (a variety of rice) grew up that way (from drops of Soma). They are honoured for the propitiation of) Pitris. The spray (of Soma juice) sticking to (and coming out of) his nostrils fell from them (and became ikṣhu sugarcane). Hence sugarcanes are phlegmatic, cool, pleasing and sweet.
One should perform all the Pitris-rites with Śhyāmāka rice and sugarcane for the fulfillment of all desires.
He who performs Āgrayana i.e, the first Soma libation at the Agnishtoma sacrifice (or of fruits after the rainy season) (with Shyamāka and sugarcanes) attains the fulfilment of his desires quickly.1
1. For the lists of kinds of corns to be used for Śhräddha food vide MKP. 29-9-11 (quoted by Hemadri), VP. III, 16.5-6, Vişhnu Dhs. 80.1.
9. Syāmäka (rice), Hastinäman (?), Patola (fruit of Trichosanthes Dinoecha), fruits of Bruhati (Brinjals) and the crest of Agastya-all are very astringent.
10-11a.2 Such other excellent and sweet things as Någara (?), Dirghamūlaka (a kind of radish) should be offered at Shraddha). So also tender shoots of a bamboo, surasa, sarjaka (juicy parts of the Sāla tree) and Bhūstruņa (andropogen schoenanthus).
2. A comparison of our text with Bd, P. 2.3.14 shows that some lines are missing here while others are mixed up.
11b-14. I shall now mention those things that should always be avoided in Shrāddha. Garlic, carrots, onions, globular radish and Karambha (groats or flour mixed with curds) and other articles devoid of smell and with no taste should be avoided in Shraddha.3 The reason is also mentioned (as follows):
3. Cf. Bd.P. 23,14.22-27; Smruti Chandrika-Shraddha, pp.
Formerly in the fight between Devas and Asuras, Bali was defeated by Suras. From his wounds drops of blood gushed out and from them these articles grew up. Hence they are avoided in the Shraddha rite.
15. The exudations mentioned in the Vedas, the salts found in arid lands are to be avoided in the Shraddha rites. Women in their monthly course shall not take part in Shrāddhas.
16. Foul-smelling water, water having froth and foams, water from puddles, water where cows are disinclined to drink and the water stored in vessels the previous night shall not be used in Shraddha1.
1. Mk. P. 29.15-17
17. The milk of ewes, deer, camel, single-horned animals, buffalo and the Chamari deer should be avoided by a wise man.2
2. Cf. Brahma P. 220.169; VP. III. 16.11; MK.P. 32.17-19.
18. Henceforth I shall mention the places that should be avoided assiduously. I shall also mention, by whom Shräddha should not be seen. I shall also recount what is pure and impure in a Shraddha.
19. With great faith one should perform a Shraddha by means of fruits, roots and foodstuffs available in forests. Thereby he attains desirable country, heaven and liberation (from Shamsāra) as well as fame.
20. Places full of noise-pollution and teeming with insects and a place with foul smell shall be avoided for the performance of Shraddha.3
3. Cf. Mk.P. 29.19.
21. A place within a distance of twelve Yojanas from all the rivers joining the sea (i.e. so far from their confluence with the sea), a door at the south-east as well as the land of Trishanku, should be avoided.
22. The land to the north of Mahanadi and to the south of Kaikata is the land of Trišhanku. It is forbidden for the rite of Shraddha.4
4. It is not clear why places like Orissa, Telangana or regions north of Indus were declared unfit for Shrāddha-performance. Were they beyond the pale of Brahmanism when this section of the text came to be written? Cf. Bd.P. 2.3.14.31-33.
23. The lands of Kärankara (Karkal in south Kanara Dist.), Kalinga, the land to the north of Sindhu and those lands wherein the practice of the pious rites of different stages of life and castes are not in vogue, should be avoided scrupulously.
24. The naked and similar (apostates and non-Vedic sects) people should not see the Shraddha rite.5 This is the rule.
5. As explained below (vv.26ft), those who do not have the protective covering of the Vedas. The term includes not only non-Vedic sects like Jains and Buddhists but includes apostate Brahmins, atheists, committer of gross sins (maha-pătakas). Cr. Mbh. Anušāsana 91-43-44, KP. II. 21-32, 23.4-25, Vishnu Dh. S. 89.3ff. The underlying idea is that the sacred food for Shrāddha would get polluted by the mere sight of these fallen people,
*The line: Paşhanda-vaikrutasthane naishā
Srushtih svayambhurah|
is obscure. Bd. P. 2.3.14.39 reads
Pashandā vai krutas tāta, teşhām srushtih prajāyate
(The defeated Asuras), created heretics. Their progeny are Vruddha-Shravakas (Dvi-Shraddhaka is mis-spelling), Nirgranthas(nude Jainas), Shakyas (followers of Buddha) and Puşhti-kalam-kashas (?)
Such Shrāddhas as are seen by these, do not reach Pitris or Pitämahas.
Shamyu said:
25. O holy lord, O leader of important Brāhmaṇas, please recount in detail and precisely to me who ask about the naked and similar people.
26. Thus requested, Bruhaspati of great brilliance said to him: The Trayi (the three. Vedas) is remembered as the protective covering unto all living beings.
27. Those who discard it out of delusion are the naked, O excellent Brāhmaṇa. If a man forsakes that protection, he becomes supportless and is ruined.
28. If a man discards. Dharma and seeks liberation (Mokşha) elsewhere, his labour therein is in vain. For he has not the correct perspective.
29-30. Formerly, all the Brāhmaṇas, Kshatriyas, Vaiśhyas and Shūdras were made heretics and placed in a deformed state by Asuras who were defeated in the battle between Devas and Asuras. This is not the creation of the self-born god Brahma*. Nor are these:
31. Those who do not practise piety come under the category of “the naked and similar people” (Nagnadayah). A Brahmaņa who keeps matted hair without any specific aim, who shaves off his hair for nothing and who goes about naked purposelessly is also called so.
32. He who observes holy rites in vain, he who performs Japas in vain is also called “‘Naked etc.” So also those who blow off their homes, the hunters and those who destroy property (are considered so).
33. They are denounced as men of evil ways finding fault with every action committed. The Shraddha performed or witnessed by these, goes to men(and not to Pitrus).
34. The Brāhmaṇa-slayer, the ungrateful, the atheists, the defilers of the preceptor’s bed, robbers and wicked men are shunned at the very sight.
35. One shall avoid all those who commit sins and particularly those who indulge in slandering Devas and the divine sages.
36-40. Whatever is witnessed by these, goes over to Asuras and Yātudhānas.
Krutayuga is said to be the age of Brahmaņas. Tretayuga is remembered as the age of Kshatriyas. They say that Dvāparayuga is the age of Vaishyas and Kaliyuga is remembered as the age of Shūdras.
Pitris said:
The Vedas are to be worshipped in Krutayuga. Similarly, Suras are to be worshipped in Tretäyuga. Wars are always to be worshipped in Dvāpara and the heretics in Kaliyuga.
There is no doubt in this that these spoil a Shraddha by their mere sight: the dishonoured, the unholy, fowl, domestic pig and dog. The Shraddha materials touched by calves and the people having pollution and chronic ailments are defiled. Cooked food should never be seen by dirty or fallen persons. If they see, it cannot be used as Havya and Kavya (offerings to gods and Pitris).
41. The chief materials touched by them become desecrated. Solidified ghee shall be avoided at the very outset. Sprinkling with water mixed with clay is laid down (for the consecration of materials of Shraddha).
42. Scattering of yellow mustard and black gingelly seeds should be done. The articles should be assiduously shown to the preceptor, the sun and the fire.
43-47. The following should be avoided in Shraddha: that which is trodden upon by people while climbing on to their seats, that which is seen by the mobile beings that are defiled; dried up and stale things, partly eaten things, defiled objects; that which is licked at the tip; that which is defiled by gravel, pebbles and hair or worm-eaten; cooked rice and other food stuffs in which salt has been added; gingelly seeds and barley ground and powdered like oilcake; and things shaken off from garments. There are certain people who profess to be very wise by showing their opposition to the Vedas. They are to be termed ‘Ayajñapatis’ (non-masters of sacrifice). They are as though the dusts of Shraddha. Forbidden vegetables mixed with curds, as well as sour gruel or fomented liquids are avoided in a Shraddha.
48. One should avoid (the egg-plant) and all distilled liquors. The salt extracted from the ocean (water) and from the (waters of the) Manasa (lake) (is holy).
49-50. This is extremely holy. It is visible directly. It is put into the fire and then taken in the hands and carefully pressed. It is to be applied to the forehead. This is remembered as Brahmatirtha. All the articles for Shraddha should be sprinkled and offered in the sacrifice.1
1. Verses 50-58 describe the process of purifying different articles to be used in a Shraddha
51. Arista (soap-berry), Tumula, Bilva, Inguda and Shvadana should be soaked in water and (water be) sprinkled (out of them).
52. All sorts of baskets (wicker-work) should be purified according to the conventional practice. Vessels made of tooth (ivory)-bone, wood and horns should be scrubbed and scraped.
53-54. All earthen pots should be burnt again (for purification). Gems, diamonds, corals, pearls and conchs are to be purified by (brushing with the residues of powdered yellow mustard or gingelly seeds. The same can be used to purify sheep wool and all types of hair.
55. All kinds of sheep’s wool can be purified with clay and water, (but) at the beginning and end of all purificatory processes washing with water is recommended.
56. Purification of cotton cloth is effected with sacred ashes. Flowers, fruits, pins and rods should be dipped in water.
57-58. Purification of the earth (ground) is by sweeping, sprinkling and smearing (with cowdung). Outside the village the ground (earth) is purified by the wind. Purification (cleansing) of bow and arrows is effected by (brushing) it with clay. Thus the excellent modes of purification have been mentioned.
Henceforth I shall mention further modes of purification. Listen to it even as I recount,
59. One should evacuate the bowels early in the morning at a distance of an arrow-shot from the house in the south-western direction and within the view of the house. He should cover the head (with a cloth). He shall not touch the head with the hands. 1
1. After dealing with the purification of things or materials for Shraddha, the author deals with the purification of the man performing the Shraddha in vv. 59 to the end of the Chapter. The Purana-writers (in fact the whole tribe of writers on Dharma-Shastra in the mediaeval period) appear to have been so much obsessed with ‘purity-psychosis’ that they lost sight of the social necessity of assimilating foreigners or backward people in Hinduism and prohibited their own followers from going beyond the contracting geographical limits of Brahmanism (vide v. 69-71).
60-61. (Before evacuating) the ground should be covered with dry grass, wooden sticks or leaves, bamboo chips or broken mud pots. He should take water in a pot and hold clay also in the hand in complete silence. He should sit facing the north during the day and the south during the night.
62. He should hold the water-pot with the right hand and wash the anus with the left hand applying clay three times.
63. He should scrub the left hand with clay ten times and then each of the two hands five times.
64. Washing the feet after applying clay, he should duly perform Achamana (sipping of water). He should then pour water down three times with (invocation of) the sun, fire and water.
65. A sensible man should always keep a water-pot handy. Subsidiary actions and washing of the feet shall be done by means of this pot.
66. The performance of Achamana and divine duties shall be done by means of a second (vessel). If such actions are performed with a defiled hand, one should observe fast for three nights.
67. In protracted cases of default, the rite of Krucchra is prescribed for expiation. After touching a dog or a Chandala one should perform Taptakrucchra rite.
68. If human bones are touched, fasting is the purification (for it). It is prescribed that if (the bones are) touched deliberately the fast is to be observed for three nights, and for one night, if touched unintentionally.
69-71. By going to unholy places, one acquires all sorts of sins. These unholy places are-Kāraskaras, Pulindas, Andhras, Shabaras and others, the land of Bhūtilaya (if one drinks water there), the land of Yugandhara, up to the northen borderlands of Sindhu, the land of Divyantarashata, sinful countries occupied by sinners and lands devoid of good men such as Brāhmaṇas who have mastered the Vedas.
72-73. Clarity of mind, fire, timely whitewashing-these things indicate purity. But one is always ignorant. If one makes default in the purificatory rites-except out of ignorance, undoubtedly the benefit goes to Piśhāchas and Yătudhānas.
74-75. One who has no faith in purificatory rites is born among Mlecchas. Those who do not perform Yajñas and sinners are born among the lower strata of animals. A man gets released from sins through purificatory rites and attains heaven. Devas indeed desire purity. This has been declared by Devas themselves.
76. Suras always forsake the hideous and the unclean. Men of auspicious rites perform three types of purificatory rites justifiably.
77-78. Pitris delighted with them for their pure rites, increase the Yogic power and bestow all cherished things available in the three worlds, on these people, viz. a man who reveres Brahmaņas, one who receives guests, an intelligent man who adheres to purity, one devotedly attached to parents, one who possesses self-control and one who is sympathetic, O Brāhmaṇas.