Vasishthadharmasutra 11

11.1

ṣaḍarghārhā bhavanti

Six persons are (particularly) worthy to receive the honey-mixture (madhuparka),

11.2

ṛtvigvivāhyo rājā pitṛvyasnātakamātulāśca

(Viz.) an officiating priest, the bridegroom of one's daughter, a king, a paternal uncle, a Snâtaka, a maternal uncle, as well as (others enumerated elsewhere).

11.3

vaiśvadevasya siddhasya sāyaṃ prātargṛhyāgnau juhuyāt

(A householder) shall offer, both at the morning and the evening (meals, a portion) of the prepared (food) to the Visve Devas in the (sacred) domestic fire.

11.4

gṛhadevatābhyo baliṃ haret

Let him give a Bali-offering to the (guardian) deities of the house,

11.5

śrotriyāyāgrabhāgaṃ dattvā brahmacāriṇe vānantaraṃ pitṛbhyo dadyāt

(Thereafter) let him give a portion, one Pala in weight, to a Srotriya or to a student, (and afterwards an offering) to the manes.

11.6

tato'tithiṃ bhojayecchreyāṃsamānupūrvyeṇa

Next let him feed his guests in due order, the worthiest first,

11.7

svagṛhyāṇāṃ kumārībālavṛddhataruṇaprajātāḥ

(Thereafter) the maidens, the infants, the aged, the half-grown members of his family, and pradâtâs,

11.8

tato'parāngṛhyān

Then the other members of his family.

11.9

śvacāṇḍālapatitavāyasebhyo bhūmau nirvapet

(Outside the house) he shall throw (some food) on the ground for the dogs, Kândâlas, outcasts, and crows.

11.10

śūdrāyocchiṣṭamanucchiṣṭaṃ vā dadyāt

He may give to a Sûdra either the fragments (of the meal) or (a portion of) fresh (food).

11.11

śeṣaṃ dampatī bhuñjīyātām

The master of the house and his wife may eat what remains.

11.12

sarvopayogena punaḥpāko yadi nirupte vaiśvadeve'tithirāgacchedviśeṣe ṇāsmā annaṃ kārayet

A fresh meal for which all (the same materials as for the first) are used (may be prepared), if a guest comes after the Vaisvadeva has been offered. For such a (guest) he shall cause to be prepared food (of a) particularly (good quality).

11.13

vijñāyate hi | vaiśvānaraḥ praviśatyatithirbrāhmaṇo gṛhaṃ tasmādapa ānayantyannaṃ varṣābhyas tāṃ hi śāntiṃ janā viduriti

For it has been declared in the Veda, 'A Brâhmana guest enters the house resembling the Vaisvânara fire. Through., him they obtain rain, and food through rain. Therefore people know that the (hospitable reception of a guest) is a ceremony averting evil.'

11.14

taṃ bhojayitvopāsīta

Having fed the (guest), he shall honour him.

11.15

ā sīmāntamanuvrajedanujñānādvā

He shall accompany him to the boundary (of the village) or until he receives permission (to return).

11.16

aparapakṣa ūrdhvaṃ caturthyāḥ pitṛbhyo dadyāt

Let him present (funeral offerings) to the manes during the dark half of the month (on any day) after the fourth.

11.17

pūrvedyurbrāhmanānsannipātya yatīngṛhasthānsādhūnvāpariṇatavayaso vikarmasthāñśrotriyānaśiṣyānanantevāsinaḥ

After issuing an invitation on the day preceding (the Srâddha, he shall feed on that occasion) three ascetics or three virtuous householders, who are Srotriyas, who are not very aged, who do not follow forbidden occupations, and neither (have been his) pupils, nor are (living as) pupils in his house.

11.18

śiṣyānapi guṇavato bhojayet

He may also feed pupils who are endowed with good qualities.

11.19

dvirnagnaśuklaviklidhaśyāvadantakuṣṭhikunakhivarjam

Let him avoid men neglecting their duties, those afflicted with white leprosy, eunuchs, blind men, those who have black teeth, those who suffer from black leprosy, (and) those who have deformed nails.

11.20

athāpi udāharanti atha cenmantravidyuktaḥ śārīraiḥ paṅktidūṣaṇaiḥ aduṣyaṃ taṃ yamaḥ prāha paṅktipāvana eva saḥ

Now they quote also (the following verses): 'Now, if a (Brâhmana) versed in the Vedas is afflicted with bodily (defects) which exclude him from the company, Yama declares him to be irreproachable. Such (a man) sanctifies the company.'

11.21

śrāddhe nodvāsanīyāni ucchiṣṭānyā dinakṣayāt ścyotante hi sudhādhāras tāḥ pibantyakṛtodakāḥ

'At a funeral sacrifice the fragments (of the meal) must not be swept away until the end of the day. For streams of nectar flow (from them, and the manes of) those who have received no libations of water drink (them).'

11.24

uccheṣaṇaṃ bhūmigataṃ vikiraṃ lepanodakam annaṃ preteṣu visṛjed aprajānāmanāyuṣām

'Let him give the fragments that have fallen on the ground and the portion scattered (on the blades of Kusa grass), which consists of the wipings and water, as their food, to the manes of those who died without offspring and of those who died young.'

11.26

tasmādaśūnyahastena kuryādannamupāgatam bhojanaṃ vā samālabhya tiṣṭhetoccheṣaṇe ubhe

'Therefore let him not offer it (to the Brâhmanas) without holding (a spoon) in his hand; or let him stand, holding the dish (with both hands, until) leavings of both kinds (have been produced).'

11.27

dvau daive pitṛkṛtye trīn ekaikamubhayatra vā bhojayetsusamṛddho'pi na prasajjeta vistare

'He shall feed two (Brâhmanas) at the offering to the gods, and three at the offering to the manes, or a single man on either occasion; even a very wealthy man shall not be anxious (to entertain) a large company.'

11.28

satkriyāṃ deśakālau ca śaucaṃ brāhmaṇasaṃpadam pañcaitānvistaro hanti tasmāttaṃ parivarjayet

'A large company destroys these five (advantages), the respectful treatment (of the invited guests, the propriety of) time and place, purity and (the selection of) virtuous Brâhmana (guests); therefore he shall not (invite a large number).'

11.29

api vā bhojayedekaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam śrutaśīlopasaṃpannaṃ sarvālakṣaṇavarjitam

'Or he may entertain (at a Srâddha) even a single Brâhmana who has studied the whole Veda, who is distinguished by learning and virtue, and is free from all evil marks (on his body).'

11.30

yadyekaṃ bhojayecchrāddhe daivaṃ tatra kathaṃ bhavet annaṃ pātre samuddhṛtya sarvasya prakṛtasya tu

'(But) how can the oblation to the gods be made if he feeds a single Brâhmana at a funeral sacrifice? Let him take (a portion) of each (kind of) food that has been prepared (and put it) into a vessel;'

11.31

devatāyatane kṛtvā tataḥ śrāddhaṃ pravartayet prāsyedagnau tadannaṃ vā dadyādvā brahmacāriṇe

'Let him place it in the sanctuary of a god and afterwards continue (the performance of) the funeral sacrifice. Let him offer that food in the fire or give it (as alms) to a student.'

11.32

yāvaduṣṇaṃ bhavatyannaṃ yāvadaśnanti vāgyatāḥ tāvaddhi pitaro'śnanti yāvannoktā havirguṇāḥ

11.33

havirguṇā na vaktavyāḥ pitaro yāvadataitāḥ pitṛbhistaitaiḥ paścād vaktavyaṃ śobhanaṃ haviḥ

'The qualities of the food must not be declared as long as the (Brâhmanas who represent the) manes are not satiated. Afterwards when they are satisfied, they may say, "Beautiful is the sacrificial food."'

11.34

niyuktastu yadā śrāddhe daive vā māṃsamutsṛjet yāvanti paśuromāṇi tāvannarakamṛcchati

'But an ascetic who, invited to dine at a sacrifice of the manes or of the gods, rejects meat, shall go to hell for as many years as the slaughtered beast has hairs.'

11.35

trīṇi śrāddhe pavitrāṇi dauhitraḥ kutapastilāḥ trīṇi cātra praśaṃsanti śaucamakrodhamatvarām

'Three (things are held to) sanctify a funeral sacrifice, a daughter's son, the midday, and sesamum grains; and they recommend three (other things) for it, purity, freedom from anger and from precipitation.'

11.36

divasasyāṣṭame bhāge mandībhavati bhāskaraḥ sa kālaḥ kutapo jñeyaḥ pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam

'The eighth division of the day, during which the sun's (progress in the heavens) becomes slow, one must know to be midday; what is (then) given to the manes lasts (them) for a very long time.'

11.37

śrāddhaṃ dattvā ca bhuktvā ca maithunaṃ yo'dhigacchati bhavanti pitarastasya tanmāsaṃ retaso bhujaḥ

'The ancestors of that man who has intercourse with a woman after offering or having dined at a Srâddha, feed during a month from that (day) on his semen.'

11.38

yastato jāyate garbho dattvā bhuktvā ca paitṛkam na sa vidyāṃ samāpnoti kṣīṇāyuścaiva jāyate

'A child that is born from (intercourse immediately) after offering a Srâddha or partaking of a funeral repast, is unable to acquire sacred learning and becomes short-lived.'

11.39

pitā pitāmahaścaiva tathaiva prapitāmahaḥ upāsate sutaṃ jātaṃ śakuntā iva pippalam

'The father and the grandfather, likewise the great-grandfather, beset a descendant who is born to them, just as birds (fly to) a rig tree;'

11.40

madhumāṃsaiśca śākaiśca payasā pāyasena ca eṣa no dāsyati śrāddhaṃ varṣāsu ca maghāsu ca

'(Saying), "He will offer to us funeral repasts with honey and meat, with vegetables, with milk and with messes made of milk, both in the rainy season and under the constellation Maghâh."

11.41

santānavarddhanaṃ putram udyataṃ pitṛkarmaṇi devabrāhmaṇasaṃpannam abhinandanti pūrvajāḥ

'The ancestors always rejoice at a descendant who lengthens the line, who is zealous in performing funeral sacrifices, and who is rich in (images of the) gods and (virtuous) Brâhmana (guests).'

11.42

nandanti pitarastasya suvṛṣṭairiva karṣakāḥ yadgayāstho dadātyannaṃ pitaraste na putriṇa iti

'The manes consider him to be their (true) descendant who offers (to them) food at Gayâ, and (by the virtue of that gift) they grant him (blessings), just as husbandmen (produce grain) on well-ploughed (fields).'

11.43

śrāvaṇyāgrahāyiṇyoścānvaṣṭakyāṃ ca pitṛbhyo dadyāt

He shall offer (a Srâddha) both on the full moon days of the months Srâvana and Âgrahâyana and on the Anvashtakî.

11.44

dravyadeśabrāhmaṇasannidhāne vākālaniyamaḥ

There is no restriction as to time, if (particularly suitable) materials and (particularly holy) Brâhmanas are at hand, or (if the sacrificer is) near (a particularly sacred) place.

11.45

avaśyaṃca brāhmaṇo'gnīnādadhīta

A Brâhmana must necessarily kindle the three sacred fires.

11.46

daśarpūrṇamāsāgrayaneṣṭicāturmāsyapaśusomaiśca yajeta

He shall offer (in them) the full and new moon sacrifices, the (half-yearly) Âgraya.a Ishti, the Kâturmâsya-sacrifice, the (half-yearly) sacrifices at which animals are slain, and the (annual) Soma-sacrifices.

11.47

naiyamikaṃ hyetadṛṇasamstutaṃ ca

For all this is (particularly) enjoined (in the Veda), and called by way of laudation 'a debt.'

11.48

vijñāyate hi | tribhirṛṇairṛṇavānbrāhmaṇo jāyate | yajñena devebhyaḥ prajayā pitṛbhyo brahmacaryeṇa ṛṣibhya ityeṣa vānṛṇo yajvā yaḥ putrī brahmacaryavāniti

For it is declared in the Veda, 'A Brâhmana is born, loaded with three debts,' (and further, 'He owes) sacrifices to the gods, a son to the manes, the study of the Veda to the Rishis; therefore he is free from debt who has offered sacrifices, who has begotten a son, and who has lived as a student (with a teacher).'

11.49

garbhāṣṭameṣu brāhmaṇamupanayīta

Let him (ordinarily) initiate a Brâhmana in the eighth (year) after conception,

11.50

garbhādekādaśeṣu rājanyam

A Kshatriya in the eleventh year after conception,

11.51

garbhāddvādaśeṣu vaiśyam

A Vaisya in the twelfth year after conception.

11.52

pālāśo vā daṇḍo brāhmaṇasya

The staff of a Brâhmana (student may) optionally (be made) of Palâsa wood,

11.53

naiyyagrodhaḥ kṣatriyasya vā

(That) of a Kshatriya optionally of the wood of the Banyan tree,

11.54

audumbaro vā vaiśyasya

(That) of a Vaisya optionally of Udumbara wood.

11.55

keśasaṃmito brāhmaṇasya

(The staff) of a Brâhmana shall (be of such a length as to) reach the hair,

11.56

lalāṭasaṃmitaḥ kṣatriyasya

(That) of a Kshatriya the forehead,

11.57

ghrāṇasaṃmito vaiśyasya

(That) of a Vaisya the (tip of the) nose.

11.58

mauñjī raśanā brāhmaṇasya

The girdle of a Brâhmana shall be made of Muñga grass,

11.59

dhanurjyā kṣatriyasya

A bowstring (shall be that) of a Kshatriya,

11.60

śaṇatāntavī vaiśyasya

(That) of a Vaisya shall be made of hempen threads.

11.61

kṛṣṇājinamuttarīyambrāhmaṇasya

The upper garment of a Brâhmana (shall be) the skin of a black antelope,

11.62

rauravaṃ kṣatriyasya

(That) of a Kshatriya the skin of a spotted deer,

11.63

gavyaṃ bastājinaṃ vā vaiśyasya

(That) of a Vaisya a cow-skin or the hide of a he-goat.

11.64

śuklamahataṃ vāso brāhmaṇasya

The (lower) garment of a Brâhmana (shall be) white (and) unblemished,

11.65

māñjiṣṭhaṃ kṣatriyasya

(That) of a Kshatriya dyed with madder,

11.66

hāridraṃ kauśeyaṃ vā vaiśyasya

(That) of a Vaisya dyed with turmeric, or made of (raw) silk;

11.67

sarveṣāṃ vā tāntavamaraktam

Or (a dress made of) undyed (cotton) cloth may be worn by (students of) all (castes).

11.68

bhavatpūrvāṃ brāhmaṇo bhikṣāṃ yāceta

A Brâhmana shall ask for alms placing (the word) 'Lady' first,

11.69

bhavanmadhyāṃ rājanyaḥ

A Kshatriya placing (the word)' Lady' in the middle,

11.70

bhavadantyāṃ vaiśyaḥ

A Vaisya placing (the word) Lady' at the end (of the formula).

11.71

ā ṣoḍaśādbrāhmaṇasya nātītaḥ kālaḥ

The time (for the initiation) of a Brâhmana has not passed until the completion of the sixteenth year,

11.72

ā dvāviṃśātkṣatriyasya

(For that) of a Kshatriya until the completion of the twenty-second,

11.73

ā caturviṃśādvaiśyasya

(For that) of a Vaisya until the completion of the twenty-fourth.

11.75

naitānupanayennādhyāpayenna yājayennaibhirvivāhayeyuḥ

Let him not initiate such men, nor teach them, nor sacrifice for them; let them not form matrimonial alliances (with such outcasts).

11.76

patitasāvitrīka uddālakavrataṃ caret

A man whose Sâvitrî has not been performed, may undergo the Uddâlaka-penance.

11.77

dvau māsau yāvakena vartayenmāsaṃ payasārdhamāsamāmikṣayāṣṭarātraṃ ghṛtena ṣaḍrātramayācitena trirātramabbhakṣo'horātramupavaset

Let him subsist during two months on barley-gruel, during one month on milk, during half a month on curds of two-milk whey, during eight days on clarified butter, during six days on alms given without asking, (and) during three days on water, and let him fast for one day and one night.

11.78

aśvamedhāvabhṛthaṃ gacchet

(Or) he may go to bathe (with the priests) at the end of an Asvamedha (horse-sacrifice).

11.7-2

vrātyastomena vā yajedvā yajedveti

11.7-2.p1

iti vāsiṣṭhadharmaśāstra ekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ