Agniveshyagrihyasutra 3

English (machine translation) 3

Language: English

3.1 — 3 parts
3.2 — 6 parts
3.3 — 2 parts
3.4 — 5 parts
3.5 — 8 parts
3.6 — 4 parts
3.7 — 4 parts
3.8 — 3 parts
3.9 — 3 parts
3.10 — 5 parts
3.11 — 4 parts
3.12 — 2 parts

3.1.1.1

On the new-moon day in the afternoon, or on the uneven days of the dark fortnight [for] the monthly [śrāddha], having prepared food for the ancestors, having arranged seats of darbha grass pointing to the south, he invites Brahmins who are pure, proficient in mantras, without bodily defects, and an odd number in total.

3.1.1.2

He should not feed those related by birth, lineage, or mantras out of a desire for gain.

3.1.1.3

Having set up the fire, having strewn [around it] darbha grass with the tips pointing south and east, having scooped clarified butter into a ghee pot containing a single strainer, having purified it, he then pours water counter-clockwise around [the fire].

3.1.1.4

Having put on a firewood bundle of udumbara wood, he makes the offering with a ladle of udumbara wood.

3.1.1.5

Having performed [the ritual] up to the clarified butter portions, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, he invokes the ancestors: 'Come, O Soma-loving ancestors, by deep, ancient paths, bestowing offspring and wealth upon us, and long life of a hundred autumns.'

3.1.1.6

He pours out water towards this very direction: 'Send forward the fire, O divine waters; let these ancestors enjoy our sacrifice.

3.1.1.7

Sitting, they enjoy refreshment; may they grant us wealth with all heroic sons.'

3.1.1.8

Having performed [the ritual] up to the mystic utterances, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, he offers: 'To Soma accompanied by the ancestors, svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.9

'To Yama accompanied by the Aṅgirases and the ancestors, svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.10

'The waters that flow eastward and those from the north,

3.1.1.11

By the waters, the sustainers of the entire world, I place another between [myself and] my father; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.12

'I place [another] between by means of the mountains, by the great earth,

3.1.1.13

By heaven, by the directions, by unending protections, I place another between [myself and] my grandfather; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.14

'I place [another] between by all the seasons, by the days and nights along with the twilights,

3.1.1.15

And by the half-months and months, I place another between [myself and] my great-grandfather; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.16

Then he offers with their names: 'To [name], svadhā, reverence; to [name], svadhā, reverence.'

3.1.1.17

'Whatever my mother strayed from, wandering disloyal, let my father take that seed; let any other interloper fall away; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.1.18

Likewise for the second.

3.1.1.19

Likewise for the third.

3.1.1.20

He adapts the formula: 'Whatever my grandmother...', 'Whatever my great-grandmother...'.

3.1.2.1

'Those ancestors who are here and those who are not here, those whom we know and those whom we do not know,

3.1.2.2

O Agni, you know them if they [are there], O Jātavedas; with that svadhā given [by you], may they delight according to their desires; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.2.3

'Whatever limb of yours the flesh-eating [fire] burned, bringing, conducting [you] to the worlds, O Jātavedas,

3.1.2.4

That I restore to you; uninjured with all their limbs, let the ancestors come into being; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.2.5

'Convey the clarified butter, O Jātavedas, to the ancestors where you know them placed in the distance.

3.1.2.6

Let streams of clarified butter flow to them; let their blessings come true according to their desires; svadhā, reverence, svāhā.'

3.1.2.7

Likewise for the second; likewise for the third.

3.1.2.8

He adapts the formula: 'To the grandfathers...', 'To the great-grandfathers...'.

3.1.2.9

In this manner he offers the food.

3.1.2.10

He adapts the formula: 'Convey the food...'.

3.1.2.11

Then he offers the Sviṣṭakṛt offering: 'To Agni the bearer of funeral offerings, Sviṣṭakṛt, svadhā, reverence.'

3.1.2.12

Having offered in the southeastern half and having thrown in the ladle, he then touches the food: 'The earth is your dish, heaven is your lid; I offer you into the mouth of the Brahman; I offer you into the inhalation and exhalation of the Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; do not perish for the ancestors in yonder world. The earth is all around me; Agni is the overseer so that what is given is not neglected. The Ṛgveda verses are your greatness.

3.1.2.13

The earth is your dish, heaven is your lid; I offer you into the mouth of the Brahman; I offer you into the inhalation and exhalation of the Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; do not perish for the grandfathers in yonder world. The intermediate space is all around me; Vāyu is the listener so that what is given is not neglected. The Yajurveda formulas are your greatness.

3.1.2.14

The earth is your dish, heaven is your lid; I offer you into the mouth of the Brahman; I offer you into the inhalation and exhalation of the Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; do not perish for the great-grandfathers in yonder world. Heaven is all around me; Āditya is the proclaimer so that what is given is not neglected. The Sāmaveda chants are your greatness.'

3.1.2.15

He has the Brahmins touch [the food].

3.1.2.16

Following them as they eat, having received permission regarding the remainder,

3.1.3.1

having taken a water pot and a handful of darbha grass, and having strewn darbha grass with its tips pointing south, with downward-turned hand he pours out three water vessels over them, finishing toward the south: 'May the Soma-loving ancestors cleanse themselves; may the Soma-loving grandfathers cleanse themselves; may the Soma-loving great-grandfathers cleanse themselves.'

3.1.3.2

Or with: 'O [name], wash yourself; O [name], wash yourself', with downward-turned hand he gives three ancestral balls of rice on them, finishing toward the south.

3.1.3.3

He gives an ancestral ball of rice to the father with: 'This is yours, father [name]'; to the grandfather with: 'This is yours, grandfather [name]'; to the great-grandfather with: 'This is yours, great-grandfather [name]'.

3.1.3.4

Silently, a fourth.

3.1.3.5

It is optional.

3.1.3.6

If he does not know the names, he gives an ancestral ball of rice to the father with: 'Svadhā to the ancestors dwelling on the earth.'

3.1.3.7

To the grandfather with: 'Svadhā to the grandfathers dwelling in the intermediate space.'

3.1.3.8

To the great-grandfather with: 'Svadhā to the great-grandfathers dwelling in heaven.'

3.1.3.9

Here he gives salve, unguent, and a garment after each ancestral ball of rice.

3.1.3.10

He applies salve three times with: 'Anoint your eyes, O [name]; anoint your eyes, O [name].'

3.1.3.11

He applies unguent three times with: 'Anoint yourself, O [name]; anoint yourself, O [name].'

3.1.3.12

Having cut off a fringe or a tuft of wool, he lays it down with: 'These garments are yours, O ancestors; do not join with anything else of ours, O ancestors. These garments are yours, O grandfathers; do not join with anything else of ours, O grandfathers. These garments are yours, O great-grandfathers; do not join with anything else of ours, O great-grandfathers'—in earlier age; in later [age], having plucked a hair of his own body.

3.1.3.13

Then, having gathered the vessel, he pours out [water]: 'These waters, full of sweetness, satisfying sons and grandsons,

3.1.3.14

Yielding svadhā, ambrosia, for the ancestors—may the divine waters satisfy both groups.'

3.1.3.15

Having inverted the vessel and crossing his hands, he attends upon [the ancestors] with the six reverences: 'Reverence to you, O ancestors, for sap...'

3.1.3.16

Having gone to the edge of the water, he gives water libations by giving three handfuls of water: 'This sweet, flowing wave is yours, father [and] ancestor. As great as Agni and the earth are, such is its measure, such is its greatness; so great as it is, I give it. Just as Agni is imperishable and inexhaustible, so for my father [and] ancestor let it be imperishable, inexhaustible svadhā. Subsist, O [name], on the imperishable svadhā together with them. The Ṛgveda verses are your greatness. This sweet, flowing wave is yours, grandfather [and] ancestor. As great as Vāyu and the intermediate space are, such is its measure, such is its greatness; so great as it is, I give it. Just as Vāyu is imperishable and inexhaustible, so for my grandfather [and] ancestor let it be imperishable, inexhaustible svadhā. Subsist, O [name], on the imperishable svadhā together with them. The Yajurveda formulas are your greatness.'

3.1.3.17

“This is your sweet, flowing wave, O great-grandfather, father! As great as are the sun and heaven, so great is its measure, so great is its greatness. As vast as it has become, so vast do I give it. Just as the sun is unexhausted and unfailing, so may this be unexhausted and unfailing svadhā for my great-grandfather, the father! O so-and-so, live upon that unexhausted svadhā together with them! The Sāman chants are your greatness!”—thus.

3.1.3.18

Having returned, he rolls forth water with a firmly placed water pot: “Depart, O Soma-loving ancestors, by the deep ancient paths, granting us offspring and wealth!

3.1.3.19

Then come again to our houses after a month to eat the oblation, with good offspring and heroic sons!”—thus.

3.1.3.20

By this the ritual procedure of the arghya offering is explained.

3.1.3.21

Meat is prescribed; in the absence of meat, vegetables. || 3

3.2.1.1

One who is about to perform the Aṣṭakā prepares an ox or a barren cow, rice grains, cooked food, honey, and clarified butter.

3.2.1.2

Purification is well known.

3.2.1.3

Having set up the sacred fire on the Anūrādhā asterism, strewn [darbha grass] around, and holding a single strainer, he then measures out the rice grains to the west of the sacred fire: “I measure out this cake of four platters, which removes distress upon the departure of the ancestors.

3.2.1.4

At the impulse of the god Savitṛ, with the arms of the Aśvins, with the hands of Pūṣan, I measure you out, acceptable to the ancestors”—repeating “to the ancestors you, to the ancestors you,” he thus measures out the four platters.

3.2.1.5

Having sprinkled [them] silently and released speech with the invocation of the preparer of the oblation (haviṣkṛt), he places this cake over the fire on potsherds in the form of a foot, just like a puroḍāśa sacrificial cake,

3.2.1.6

or on a single potsherd.

3.2.1.7

When it is cooked, having melted and strained the clarified butter and curd, he then circum-pours water: “O Aditi, assent!” eastward on the south side; “O Anumati, assent!” northward on the west side; “O Sarasvat, assent!” eastward on the north side; and “O divine Savitṛ, impel!” all around clockwise. Having circum-poured water and poured the two clarified butter libations, he offers the two clarified butter portions.

3.2.1.8

With clarified butter he offers an expiation: “You who lie across, I am the dividing boundary,”—thus.

3.2.1.9

“To you, of all-making nature, I offer with a stream of ghee, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.10

Then, cutting off from the middle of this cake, having spread an underlayer and basted it above, he offers with an udumbara ladle:

3.2.1.11

“He offers the cake rich in ghee today, endowed with svadhā, for the satisfaction of the ancestors; carry the offering to the ancestors, I offer the oblations, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus. Then, cutting from the front and the right side, he offers towards the west: “She indeed is the one who shone forth first; entering, she wanders within this one;

3.2.1.12

the bride has brought forth, bringing forth the newly born; three greatnesses attend upon her, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.13

He offers the third: “The pressing stones of the mortar have made a noise, making water for the year-old ancestors.

3.2.1.14

On the Ekāṣṭakā, may we, possessing good offspring and heroes, become masters of wealth, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.15

He offers the fourth: “The night that people welcome, as they do a cow approaching,

3.2.1.16

she who is the consort of the year, may she be very auspicious to us, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.17

He offers the fifth: “O Prajāpati! None other than you has encompassed all these created forms.

3.2.1.18

With whatever desire we make offerings to you, may that be ours! May we be masters of wealth, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.19

He offers the sixth: “Whatever I have done in excess in this rite, or whatever I have done deficiently here,

3.2.1.20

may Agni Sviṣṭakṛt, knowing, make all well-sacrificed and well-offered for me! To Agni Sviṣṭakṛt, offered to the well-offered, offered to all, the fulfiller of desires of all expiation offerings, according to desires, svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”—thus.

3.2.1.21

Having washed the ladle and laid it down, having wiped around in the same way and circum-poured water, and having given these ancestral balls of rice according to the procedure of balls of rice, he then touches this cake, rich in ghee and honey, with the formula for touching with faith: || 2

3.2.3.1

“The earth is your vessel, the sky is your cover; I offer you into the mouth of Brahman; I offer you into the in-breath and out-breath of Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; may you not perish for the ancestors in yonder world! The earth is all around me; Agni is the witness to prevent negligence in what is given. The Ṛg-verses are your greatness!”

3.2.3.2

“The earth is your vessel, the sky is your cover; I offer you into the mouth of Brahman; I offer you into the in-breath and out-breath of Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; may you not perish for the grandfathers in yonder world! The intermediate space is all around me; Vāyu is the listener to prevent negligence in what is given. The Yajus-formulas are your greatness!”

3.2.3.3

“The earth is your vessel, the sky is your cover; I offer you into the mouth of Brahman; I offer you into the in-breath and out-breath of Brahmins endowed with learning. You are imperishable; may you not perish for the great-grandfathers in yonder world! The sky is all around me; Āditya is the proclaimer to prevent negligence in what is given. The Sāman chants are your greatness!”—with this [formula],

3.2.3.4

he serves the Brahmins endowed with learning.

3.2.3.5

Having served them, he goes to the water and offers handfuls of water through the giving of handfuls of water: “This is your sweet, flowing wave, O father! As great as are the fire and earth, so great is its measure, so great is its greatness. As vast as it has become, so vast do I give it. Just as the fire is unexhausted and unfailing, so may this be unexhausted and unfailing svadhā for my father! O so-and-so, live upon that unexhausted svadhā together with them! The Ṛg-verses are your greatness!” || 3

3.2.4.1

“This is your sweet, flowing wave, O grandfather, father! As great as are the wind and the intermediate space, so great is its measure, so great is its greatness. As vast as it has become, so vast do I give it. Just as the wind is unexhausted and unfailing, so may this be unexhausted and unfailing svadhā for my grandfather, the father! O so-and-so, live upon that unexhausted svadhā together with them! The Yajus-formulas are your greatness!”

3.2.4.2

3.2.4.3

So much is the rite for that day.

3.2.4.4

Knowing this indeed, the ancient seers thus prepared the cake for the Aṣṭakā in four dishes; thereby they gratified the ancestors; being gratified, they gratified them with offspring and cattle; from that, they made friends with the ancestors, for all beings were their friends.

3.2.4.5

Whoever, knowing thus, prepares this cake for the Aṣṭakā in four dishes in this way,

3.2.4.6

by that he gratifies the ancestors, whereby they, being gratified, gratify him with offspring and cattle.

3.2.4.7

Hence he makes friends with the ancestors,

3.2.4.8

for all beings become his friends,

3.2.4.9

[the one] who, knowing thus, prepares this cake for the Aṣṭakā in four dishes in this way. ||4

3.2.5.1

On the next day, under [the asterism] Jyeṣṭhā, having set up the fire, having strewn [darbha grass] around, having circum-poured water in the same way, and having poured the two clarified butter libations, he offers the two clarified butter portions.

3.2.5.2

Having offered the expiatory [libation], he offers the dedicatory [libation]: “He dedicates this cow to the ancestors, rich in nourishment, rich in svadhā; may the departed ancestors enjoy it from me.

3.2.5.3

May she satisfy my ancestors in the beyond with desired objects, svāhā!”

3.2.5.4

Then he dedicates the cow for them: “I dedicate you, agreeable to the ancestors!”

3.2.5.5

Then he sprinkles it: “I sprinkle you, agreeable to the ancestors!”

3.2.5.6

Right there they quiet [the cow], with its head turned to the west and its feet to the south.

3.2.5.7

When it has been quieted, he refreshes its vital breaths with water silently.

3.2.5.8

Then, having extracted its omentum, he pierces it with a forked stick silently. Then they extract its heart and the two distinguished kidneys.

3.2.5.9

Having pierced them on these spits, they cook them on this very fire.

3.2.5.10

When they are cooked, having cut the omentum in three, having under-spread and over-poured [clarified butter] with a ladle of udumbara wood, he offers: “Convey the omentum, Jātavedas, to the ancestors where you know them placed in the distance.

3.2.5.11

May streams of fat flow to them; may their wishes come true with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.5.12

Then he makes an offering of portions of this meat, with [clarified butter] under-spread and over-poured, with the ladle of udumbara wood: ||5

3.2.6.1

“Behold the Ekāṣṭakā milking food, endowed with meat, endowed with ghee, endowed with svadhā.

3.2.6.2

May that, exceedingly purified by Brahmins, endless, imperishable, go to prosperity with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.6.3

He offers the second: “Ekāṣṭakā, performing austerity, the wife of the year, swelled with milk, has milked.

3.2.6.4

Living upon that milking, O ancestors, being released in a thousand ways, with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.6.5

He offers the third: “Ekāṣṭakā, performing austerity, brought forth an embryo, Indra the great.

3.2.6.6

Through him the gods overcame the Dasyus; through his powers he became the slayer of the Asuras, with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.6.7

He offers the fourth: “The mortar-like pressing stones….”

3.2.6.8

He offers the fifth: “Whom people rejoice at….”

3.2.6.9

He offers the sixth: “O Prajāpati….”

3.2.6.10

He offers the seventh: “Whatever of this rite I have made redundant….”

3.2.6.11

Having washed and put down the ladle, having circum-poured water in the same way, having given these ancestral balls of rice according to the procedure of ancestral balls of rice, he touches them with the touching formula of faith: with this verse, “The earth is your vessel….”

3.2.6.12

He serves the Brahmins endowed with learning.

3.2.6.13

Having served, having gone to the water, he gives a handful of water by the offering of a handful of water: “This is for you, father, of the father…”

3.2.6.14

This much alone is the rite of that day.

3.2.6.15

Knowing this indeed, the ancient teachers thus prepared the cow for the Aṣṭakā; by it they gratified the ancestors; being gratified, they gratified them with offspring and cattle; from that, they made friends with the ancestors, for all beings were their friends.

3.2.6.16

Whoever, knowing thus, prepares this cow for the Aṣṭakā in this way,

3.2.6.17

by that he gratifies the ancestors.

3.2.6.18

Whereby they, being gratified, gratify him with offspring and cattle.

3.2.6.19

Hence he makes friends with the ancestors, for all beings become his friends,

3.2.6.20

whoever, knowing thus, prepares this cow for the Aṣṭakā in this way. ||6

3.2.7.1

On the third day, again having prepared the śrāddha, both food and wealth, having set up the fire, having strewn [darbha grass] around, having circum-poured water in the same way, having poured the two clarified butter libations, having offered the two clarified butter portions, having offered the expiatory [libation] with clarified butter, he then offers portions of this food with the ladle of udumbara wood, with [clarified butter] under-spread and over-poured: “Convey the food, Jātavedas, to the ancestors where you know them placed in the distance.

3.2.7.2

May streams of food flow to them; may their wishes come true with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.7.3

He offers the second: “The image of the year, which night they worship,

3.2.7.4

having made offspring endowed with good heroes, may they attain the full life span, with desired objects; svadhā, reverence, svāhā!”

3.2.7.5

He offers the third: “Whom people rejoice at….”

3.2.7.6

He offers the fourth: “O Prajāpati….”

3.2.7.7

He offers the fifth: “Whatever of this rite I have made redundant….” Having thrown the ladle into the fire after [the offerings], having circum-poured water in the same way, having given these ancestral balls of rice according to the procedure of ancestral balls of rice, he touches them with the touching formula of faith: with this verse, “The earth is your vessel….”

3.2.7.8

He serves the Brahmins endowed with learning.

3.2.7.9

Having served, having gone to the water, he gives a handful of water by the offering of a handful of water:

3.2.7.10

“This is for you, father….”

3.2.7.11

This much alone is the rite of that day.

3.2.7.12

Knowing this indeed, the ancient learned Brahmins thus prepared the food for the Aṣṭakā; thereby they gratified the ancestors; being gratified, they gratified them with offspring and cattle; from that, they made friends with the ancestors, for all beings were their friends. Whoever, knowing thus, prepares this food for the Aṣṭakā in this way,

3.2.7.13

by that he gratifies the ancestors.

3.2.7.14

Whereby they, being gratified, gratify him with offspring and cattle.

3.2.7.15

Hence he makes friends with the ancestors, for all beings become his friends.

3.2.7.16

Whoever, knowing thus, gives food and wealth according to faith on the third day, from that his cattle become possessed of boundless food and wealth.

3.2.7.17

Whoever, knowing thus, does not give food and wealth according to faith on the third day, his cattle do not become possessed of boundless food and wealth. ||7

3.3.1.1

Now therefore we shall explain the remainder of the śrāddha.

3.3.1.2

On the previous day, having offered the evening aupāsana oblation, having controlled the breath, having formed the intention: "Tomorrow I shall perform the monthly śrāddha for the ancestors," or "Tomorrow I shall perform the asterism śrāddha of Yajñaśarman," or "Tomorrow I shall perform the three-fortnight śrāddha of Yajñaśarman," or "Tomorrow I shall perform the six-month śrāddha of Yajñaśarman," or "Tomorrow I shall perform the one-year śrāddha of Yajñaśarman," or having formed the intention: "Tomorrow I shall perform the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa śrāddha of Yajñaśarman"—one invites Brahmins who are pure, learned in the Veda, poor, knowers of the Veda, with sound limbs, not of the same gotra, and not of the same ancestral rishis.

3.3.1.3

[He invites] two [Brahmins] for the All-gods, [and] three for the ancestors.

3.3.1.4

If it is an ancestral sapindization rite (sapiṇḍīśrāddha), one [additional Brahmin] is added.

3.3.1.5

In rites for the newly deceased (pretaśrāddha), he should invite only one.

3.3.1.6

Saying everywhere: 'Tomorrow the monthly ancestral rite (māsiśrāddha) is to take place for the ancestors; your favor should be granted for it'; likewise, 'Tomorrow the Aṣṭakā ancestral rite is to take place for the ancestors; your favor should be granted for it'; 'Tomorrow the regular ancestral rite (nityaśrāddha) is to take place for the ancestors'; '[Tomorrow] the rite dedicated to a single deceased (ekoddiṣṭa) [is to take place]'; '[Tomorrow] the asterism ancestral rite (nakṣatraśrāddha) [is to take place]'; having honored [them] with perfumes and the like, having honored [them] according to available means with eatables such as sesamum meal, he should give betel and the like.

3.3.1.7

On the next day, having offered the morning domestic fire oblation, he digs two pits.

3.3.1.8

In rites for the newly deceased, he digs only one [pit].

3.3.1.9

At the sapindization rite (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa), having dug three [pits], having scattered sesamum seeds and darbha grass in the pit, having called the Brahmins, he invites [them].

3.3.1.10

Having washed the feet of the two [Brahmins representing] the All-gods in the northern pit, of the ancestors in the middle one, and having washed the feet of the newly deceased in the southern one, and having honored them, he should give betel.

3.3.1.11

Wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, he should perform everything in the order of the foot-washing.

3.3.1.12

In the afternoon, he should prepare the boiled sacrificial rice (sthālīpāka) on the domestic fire for feeding the Brahmins.

3.3.1.13

At the time of invoking the ancestors, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder and standing facing south, having invoked [them] and having summoned the Brahmins, he seats them facing the directions as prescribed.

3.3.1.14

Having offered [the oblations] according to rule, he gives these ancestral balls of rice (piṇḍa) according to the procedure for ancestral balls wherever prescribed.

3.3.1.15

At the time of arranging the vessels, [he pours water] into one vessel with: 'May the waters come, the ancestors by the path of the gods, the oceans, the streams, having the same nature.

3.3.1.16

'May they attain all desires in this sacrifice, may these yield inexhaustibly. For the ancestors, I take this guest-water (arghya) for you'—for the father ancestors; 'For the paternal grandfathers, I take this guest-water for you'—for the paternal grandfathers; 'For the paternal great-grandfathers, I take this guest-water for you'—for the paternal great-grandfathers; then into another vessel, he brings water for the newly deceased with: 'For the newly deceased, I take [this] for you.'

3.3.1.17

'You are sesamum, sacred to Soma, created by the gods at the Gosava [sacrifice].

3.3.1.18

'Given by the ancients, come as svadhā; satisfy these ancestors and worlds for us, svadhā, obeisance!'—with this he scatters sesamum seeds [into the water].

3.3.1.19

And with: '[Satisfy] the grandfathers, the great-grandfathers, these worlds for us, svadhā, obeisance!'

3.3.1.20

And with: 'For the newly deceased, these worlds...'

3.3.2.1

'Sweet blow the winds to the righteous, sweet flow the rivers;

3.3.2.2

sweet to us may the plants be!

3.3.2.3

Sweet be the night and the dawn, full of sweetness the earth's dust,

3.3.2.4

sweet may Heaven, our father, be!

3.3.2.5

Sweet to us be the lord of the forest, sweet may the Sun be;

3.3.2.6

may the cows be sweet to us!'—with this he pours honey.

3.3.2.7

Taking a blade of kuśa grass, having stirred [it] with: 'You are the splendor of Soma; may my splendor be like yours; you are nectar, protect me from death, protect me from the missile; driven off are the biting insects', having discarded the foam with: 'The head of Namuci is cast away', having placed [the vessel] upon darbha grass, having covered it with darbha grass, having sprinkled it with: 'May the divine [waters] be auspicious to us', having decorated it with perfumes and the like, he places the svadhā-offering wherever he deems it protected.

3.3.2.8

Having performed the washing of feet as before, having seated [them] facing north as appropriate, he invites the All-gods with: 'O All-gods, let the invitation be accepted.'

3.3.2.9

The response is: 'Om, so be it'; having said, 'May your honor attain [it]', the others reply, 'May I attain [it].'

3.3.2.10

'In the monthly ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the monthly rite; 'In the Aṣṭakā ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the Aṣṭakā rites; 'In the regular ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the regular rite; 'In the rite dedicated to a single deceased, the invitation should be accepted'—in the rite for a single deceased; 'In the asterism ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the asterism rite; 'In the six-week ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the six-week rite; 'In the six-month ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the six-month rite; 'In the one-year ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the one-year rite; 'In the sapindization ancestral rite, the invitation should be accepted'—in the sapindization rite; the response is: 'Om, so be it'; having said, 'May your honor attain [it]', the others reply, 'May I attain [it].'

3.3.2.11

Having honored them with perfumes and the like, having honored the vessel of svadhā, having given a pair of garments, earrings, and a ring, he then touches the food with: 'The earth is your vessel...'

3.3.2.12

He looks at them while eating with: 'Entered into the out-breath, I offer nectar...'

3.3.2.13

[and] with: 'In the Brahman is my self, for immortality.'

3.3.2.14

He should recite [verses] to them with Ṛgvedic and Yajurvedic verses dedicated to the ancestors.

3.3.2.15

Having offered water mixed with sesamum to those who have sipped water, having placed a strainer into the ancestor's [representative's] hand, he pours the svadhā-water with: 'May there be svadhā in the hand for the ancestors.'

3.3.2.16

'Let there be svadhā' is the response.

3.3.2.17

In the same way for the paternal grandfather; in the same way for the paternal great-grandfather; in the same way for the newly deceased.

3.3.2.18

In the same manner, having offered pure water, the response is: 'Let there be pure water.'

3.3.2.19

Having given a sacrificial fee according to ability, having circumambulated clockwise, [he asks]: 'What should be done with the food remnants?'; the response is: 'Let it be enjoyed together with friends and kin.'

3.3.2.20

Having returned, he eats the remainder together with his group.

3.3.2.21

If while performing the regular ancestral rite he brings a hare, a deer, or a tortoise, having cooked [it] or having bought it off with gold, he acts as on the second day in the Aṣṭakā rites.

3.3.2.22

They perform the six-week ancestral rite like the rite for a single deceased.

3.3.2.23

They perform the six-month ancestral rite like the six-week rite.

3.3.2.24

They perform the one-year ancestral rite like the six-month rite.

3.3.2.25

In this way, up to one year, they perform in this very manner on the cremation lunar asterisms of the deceased.

3.4.1.1

Now follows the rule of cremation.

3.4.1.2

When death is imminent for one who has established sacred fires, one who has not established sacred fires, or a woman, having smeared a clean, level place with cow dung, having sprinkled it, having scattered sand over it, having strewn darbha grass with points toward the south upon it, having laid him down upon them with the head to the south, he should recite sacred texts without svadhā [over him]: 'Extend breath from life...'

3.4.1.3

Then, when the vital breaths have departed, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, with downward-turned hands, having put a piece of gold into the mouth, having tied the two big toes together, having adorned him with ordinary adornment, having covered him with an unwashed garment with fringes at the feet, having offered the evening oblation, having offered the morning oblation, having sacrificed the full-moon sacrifice, having sacrificed the new-moon sacrifice, then having melted clarified butter on the Gārhapatya fire and strained it, having taken four ladlefuls into the offering ladle, having stepped forward to the east, he offers on the Āhavanīya fire endowed with fuel with: 'To the seat of death, svāhā!'

3.4.1.4

Having caused four Brahmins to carry [him], having placed [him] at the crossroads facing the village, having shown his face, having caused [them] to carry [him] facing the cremation ground, having carried out the deceased along with the sacred fires to the cremation ground, having laid him down there, he should choose the burning ground, sloping towards the south-west, unbroken, not saline, without cavities, or level.

3.4.1.5

"Depart, go away, and creep apart from here, you who are here, both ancient and new;

3.4.1.6

let Yama give a resting place to this man, adorned with days, waters, and nights," having thus wiped the vessel with a fresh branch of palāśa or a branch of udumbara, having thrown the branch to the south, having touched water, having sprinkled [the ground] with water, having placed a piece of gold: "Creep away, departed ones, whoever are born prior here; make well-being for us; let not a tear fall again," having dug three furrows ending toward the south with the wooden sword or with an axe, having sprinkled them with water, having filled a handful of sesamum and rice grains, he scatters [it] into the first [furrow] with: "To Yama, the lord of the ancestors, to the ancestors, svadhā, homage!"

3.4.1.7

Likewise in the second, and so in the third.

3.4.1.8

The remaining sesamum and rice grains [are strewn]. If he is an Āhitāgni, having cut his black antelope skin, he spreads it with its neck to the south, with the hair downwards.

3.4.1.9

At this time, having bathed, having filled a jar with water and medicinal herbs, he should bathe [him] with it from feet to head with the Daśahotṛ formula.

3.4.1.10

Then having dressed him in an unwashed garment and having adorned him, having then raised him onto the funeral pyre, then having inserted seven pieces of gold into the seven seats of the vital breaths—or if they are not obtained, drops of clarified butter—first into the mouth; and into the mouth he pours curds, rice grains, and sesamum seeds, [saying]: "This is the body of your self; this is of your self; I break your self away from the body with the sacred word; bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ, may this one be for the heavenly world, svāhā!"

3.4.1.11

He should mutter the Daśahotṛ formula twice at the openings of the nostrils, beginning with "cittiḥ sruk" omitting the cup-names.

3.4.1.12

He attaches "āsīt" to all the Hotṛ-words except for the Ṣaḍḍhotṛ words.

3.4.1.13

[He attaches] "āstām" in the dual and so forth.

3.4.1.14

He recites the Caturhotṛ formula, "pṛthivī hotā", twice at the mouth and corners of the lips; the Pañcahotṛ formula, "agnirhotā", twice at the ears; the Ṣaḍḍhotṛ formula, "sūryaṃ te", at the breast-bones; and twice the Saptahotṛ formula, "mahāhavirhotā". \\1\\

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Linked texts (1)

Āgniveśyagṛhyasūtra — Agniveśa, Sanskrit

Agniveshyagrihyasutra 3

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