History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.358
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.358
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He places the vessel containing *saṁsravas* with the top upside down on darbhas to the north of the daiva vessel, with the mantra ‘thou art a place for the pitṛs.’ Then *gandha*, flowers with *tulasī* and *bhṛṅgarāja* leaves, incense, lamp, garment or cash therefor, *gopīcandana*, sacred chord, betelnut, kuśas for pavitra are offered to the pitṛs and he repeats the verse ‘idam pitṛbhyaḥ’ (Ṛg. X. 15. 2). After repeating the verse ‘yat smṛtyā’ (vide above) there is ‘savyam’. The performer says ‘with your permission I shall prepare maṇḍalas and place the plates’. The response is ‘do so’. On the spot where the plates for daiva brāhmaṇas are to be placed a four-cornered maṇḍala beginning from the south-west to north-east and made with the right hand towards it and on the spot for the plates for pitrya brāhmaṇas the maṇḍala is circular beginning from north-east to south-west made with the left hand towards it. Then the plates for the diners are to be placed inside those maṇḍalas. Then taking holy ashes (*apasavyam*) he draws a line round the plates for pitrya brāhmaṇas with the mantra ‘piśaṅga-bhṛṣṭim’ (Ṛg. I. 133. 5). Then *savyam*. Then round the plates of the *daiva* brāhmaṇas he draws lines with the mantras ‘rakṣā no’ (Ṛg. IV. 3. 14) and ‘brahma ca’ (Ṛg. X. 4. 7) and two more verses (probably Paurāṇic) which pray that the mark made with ashes may guard all, just as Viṣṇu protects the worlds.
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Just as Viṣṇu renders ineffective the eyes of all men of evil sight, so one should make a maṇḍala with ashes and when this is done there is no blemish in sitting in the same row for dining. Then the purification of the hand (right) of the brāhmaṇas is done, beginning with the pitrya brāhmaṇa first. Then the performer requests ‘let me perform *agnaukaraṇa* with your permission in the hand¹¹⁰⁵ of the (pitrya) brāhmaṇa.’ The reply is ‘do so’. Then *apasavyam*. Taking some cooked food and anointing it with clarified butter and dividing it into parts, having touched the two parts placed towards the south he says ‘this for Soma accompanied by the Pitṛs, this for Agni, the carrier of kavya’ and having spread the left hand underneath the right hand, having cut off portions from the middle and the part to the east according to the rules for avadānas¹¹⁰⁶ and having poured clarified butter on the food in the vessel and on the food cut off for oblations, he should offer the oblations with the words 'To Soma accompanied by pitṛs, *svadhā* and adoration; this for Soma with the pitṛs and it is not (now) mine' and 'to Agni the bearer of *Kavya*, *svadhā* and adoration; this is for Agni Kavyavāhana and not mine.' This is the mode everywhere. He touches water with the left hand and repeats the following (which is called 'saṃsthā-japa' and occurs in Āśv. Śr. I. 11.15) 'Om ca me.. te namaḥ'. Obeisance to Agni. *Sviṣṭi*. Then he prays 'O Kavyavāhana!
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bestow on me faith, memory, glory, intelligence, learning, intellect, wealth, strength, long life, brilliance, health.' He says 'offering has been made on the hand'. The response is 'suhutam'. Then he pours ghee on the vessel containing the food and repeats 'mūrdhānaṃ divaḥ' (Ṛg VI. 7. 1) Then the brāhmaṇas should cast the food on their hands in the vessel over which ghee has been poured and then mutter Trisuparṇa,¹¹⁰⁷ the hymns to *anna* (Ṛg. I. 187. 1-11 and several others) and other hymns. Then certain pauranic verses should be repeated, viz 'Devatābhyaḥ' (note 1020), the verse 'one should always recite at a śrāddha these holy places viz Kurukṣetra, Gayā, Gaṅgā Prabhāsa and Puṣkara', the two verses¹¹⁰⁸ 'saptavyādhā' (note 994a) and three more verses, one speaking of adoration to pitṛs and the other two praying to Viṣṇu and Śiva for favours. Then *savyam*. Then he sprinkles water (prokṣaṇa) on the food with the Gāyatrī mantra. Then bending his right knee he silently spills water. Then holding the plate with the right hand above and the left hand below he utters the mantra 'the earth is thy vessel1108a, the heaven is the lid. I sacrifice thee in the brāhmaṇa's mouth. I sacrifice thee in the Prāṇa (breath) and Apāna (breath) of learned brāhmaṇas. Thou art imperishable. Do not perish for these (Fathers) here and in the next world.' Then he repeats 'ato devā' (Ṛg. I. 22. 16) and 'O Viṣṇu, guard the sacrificial food'.
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With the hand turned downwards he thrusts in the food (served in the plate) the root of the thumb of the brāhmaṇa turned downwards and should revolve it (in the food) from right to left. Then touching the plate with his left hand the performer should say 'The Viśve devās called Purūrava and Ārdrava are the deity, this food is the sacrificial offering, this brāhmaṇa serves as *āhavanīya* fire, this place is Gayā, this brāhmaṇa diner is Gadādhara, this food is Brahma, the golden vessel is the shade of the Akṣayyavaṭa (at Gayā). This food together with the flavouring dishes which is already served (in the plate) and which may be served therein (later), is the sacrificial food offered to the Viśve devas called Purūrava and Ārdrava till this brāhmaṇa is satisfied. Adoration. It is not mine. *Om Tat Sat*. May the food offered at the fourteen spots such as Viṣṇupada at Gayā be inexhaustible!'. So saying he should cast on the ground towards the left side of the plate water mixed with darbhas and yavas. He says 'May Gadādhara (Viṣṇu) of Gayā be pleased'. The brāhmaṇas respond 'May he be pleased'. Then he repeats 'Ye devāso' (Rg. I. 139.11). Then he says 'with the permission of the daiva brāhmaṇas I shall present food to the Father and others'. They reply 'do so'. Then *apasavyam*.
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Then silently sprinkling water round the plate, and touching the plate (of the pitrya brāhmaṇa) with the left hand above and the right hand below it, he repeats the formula 'pṛthivī te pātram ..loke' (vide p 444 note 992) and the verse 'idam Viṣṇur' (Rg. I. 22. 17) and say 'O Viṣṇu! guard the *kavya* food,' he should thrust the root of the thumb of the (*pitrya*) brāhmaṇa in the food (served in the plate) and revolve it from right to left. Then touching the plate (of the *pitrya* brāhmaṇa) with the left hand he should say 'the father, grand-father and great-grandfather are *devatā*, this food is of the nature of *kavya*, the brāhmaṇa is in place of the *āhavanīya* fire, this place is Gayā, this dining brāhmaṇa is Gadādhara, this food is Brahma, this silver plate is the shade of the Akṣayyavaṭa (at Gayā), svadhā to my father, grandfather and great-grandfather named so and so, of gotra so and so, that are Vasu, Rudra and Āditya respectively, this food with the side dishes that is already served in the plate and that may be served (later) is *kavya* up till this brāhmaṇa is satiated. Adoration! It is not mine. *Tat sat*. May the food given at the 14 spots such as Rudrapada at Gayā be inexhaustible May Gadādhara of Gayā be pleased.' The brāhmaṇa replies 'May he be pleased.' He then repeats the verse 'ye ceha pitaro' (Rg. X. 15. 13) and says 'May the food intended for the pitṛs please them'. Then *savyam*.¹¹⁰⁹ Then *naivedya* is offered with the verse 'brahmārpaṇam' (Gītā 4.
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24) and with three more verses in which Hari is' said to be giver and the enjoyer and the food as having both natures viz. those of *pitṛs* and *devas* and ultimately he winds up by saying 'tat sat brahmārpaṇamastu'. Then *apasavyam*. Then two verses are repeated in which adoration is offered to the feet of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Brahmā and other gods, in which even remembrance of Gayā-kṣetra is highly eulogised. Adoration to Kāśī Viśveśvara! adoration to Viṣṇu and Gadādhara at Gayā! Then *savyam*. Then he says 'I shall repeat in your hearing the *madhumatī* verses beginning with 'madhu vātā' (Ṛg. I. 90. 6-8). Then he repeats the word 'madhu' thrice. The brāhmaṇas respond 'sumadhu, all food is sweet.' Then *apasavyam*. Then a verse in praise of Viṣṇu (eko Viṣṇur &c.) 'there is one great Being viz. Viṣṇu &c.' is recited and the performer says 'May Janārdana Viṣṇu who has assumed the form of my father, grandfather and great-grandfather be pleased by this feeding of brāhmaṇas at the pratisāṁvatsarika śrāddha of my pitṛs'. The response is 'may he be so pleased'. Tat sat brahmārpaṇam-astu. Then having given water to the brāhmaṇas for *apośana*1109a (then *savyam*) he says 'partake of (the food) at your pleasure' and 'though art the first layer of nectar'. Then he repeats the mantra¹¹¹⁰ 'fixing myself in faith and in Prāṇa I offer nectar; being beneficent enter me without burning me. Svāhā to Prāṇa'.
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This is repeated as to Apāna, Vyāna, Udāna, Samāna with the substitution of each of these four remaining life-breaths. Then he winds up 'my soul is in Brahma for the sake of immortality' and then 'svāhā to Brahma'. Then the hands are purified (by washing them with water). After muttering the Gāyatrī verse ten times or three times, he repeats the hymn to Śraddhā (Ṛg.