History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.385

v5.c73.t1.385

He says 'I shall remove the piṇḍas'. They reply 'do remove'. Then he repeats the verses 'Tad Viṣṇoḥ' (Ṛg. I. 22.20), 'Tad viprāso' (Ṛg. I 22.21) and two more verses and then a Paurāṇic verse enumerating the seven holy cities of Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā, Kāśī, Kāñcī, Avantikā and Dvārakā. He says 'May there be peace, prosperity and contentment on the spot where the piṇḍas are'. They reply 'these (peace &c) dwell in their own places'. He says 'I shall remove the plates in which the brāhmaṇas had their dinner.' Then he lays aside the *kūrca*. He then recites the verse 'Vāje vāje' (Ṛg. VII. 38. 8). Then *savyam*. Then he says 'O pitṛs, get up together with the devas' and repeats the verses 'ā mā vājasya' (Vāj. S. 9. 19), 'svādusaṁsadah' (Ṛg. VI. 75 9), 'brāhmaṇāsaḥ pitaraḥ' (Ṛg. VI 75. 10), 'ihaiva stam' (Ṛg. X. 85. 42). Then he recites 'may the grandfathers being pleased grant to men (their descendants) long life, progeny, wealth, learning, heaven, mokṣa, happiness and kingdom' (Yāj. I. 270, but reads 'prayacchantu' for 'prayacchanti'). Then he prays 'May these blessings turn out to be true, may my family prosper, may this Prātisaṁvatsarika-śrāddha have the same fruits as that of a śrāddha performed at Gayā! May the pitṛs secure inexhaustible gratification.' Then he proceeds 'Today my birth has had its reward by bowing to your feet &c.' (vide n. 999 for the two verses repeated here). The brāhmaṇas reply 'we forget the trouble and excuse you.' Then he says 'Today this *tithi* is like a day sacred to the sun, the brāhmaṇas invited are like Vyāsa, Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva; may you declare that whatever is lacking as regards seats, dinner, mantras, procedure, materials and fees in this pratisāṁvatsarika śrāddha of my pitṛs performed by me today become all perfect at the words of brāhmaṇas'. They reply 'May all be perfect'. Then he recites the two verses 'Vasiṣṭhāsaḥ pitṛvad' and 'devān vasiṣṭho' (Ṛg X. 66. 14-15) and then at the end he repeats the verse containing a salutation (the word 'namaḥ') viz 'idam pitṛbhyo namo astvadya' (Ṛg. X. 15. 2). Therefore at the end (of a śrāddha rite) one does obeisance to the pitṛs (in the words 'namo vah pitaro &c'). Therefore they say "should one repeat the pitryā verses with āhāva mantra specially recited with each verse or without repeating the āhāva mantra separately with each verse, for it is better not to finish Pitṛyajña quickly. He who separately recites the āhāva with each verse makes the pitṛyajña that is imperfect, complete and therefore one must recite specially employing the āhāva with each verse."¹¹²³ The conclusion is one should repeat each verse with āhāva separately uttered. The performer should follow the brāhmaṇas up to the boundary (of the village). He says 'whatever blemish there may be in *japa*, *tapas* or śrāddha rite—may all that become free from blemish by the favour of brāhmaṇas. I do adoration to that Acyuta (Viṣṇu) by remembering whom &c. O best of brāhmaṇas! may this śrāddha, even if devoid of mantras, or of some rite or of 'faith, become perfect by your favour'. Then he concludes 'May Janārdana Vāsudeva who assumes the forms of father, grand-father and great-grandfather be pleased by this sacrifice, viz. the pratisaṁvatsarika-śrāddha of the pitṛs This is a sacrifice to the manes. *Tat sat*. May it be dedicated to Brahma.' Then he repeats the verse 'Vaṣaṭ te' (Ṛg. VII. 99 7) and then says 'adoration to Viṣṇu (Viṣṇave namaḥ) thrice and sips water twice. The fruit of offering piṇḍas is stated by Bṛhaspati and Vṛddha-Parāśara as follows: If the pitṛs are in the world of gods they are gratified by the food offered in fire, if they are in the world of pitṛs they are gratified by the dinner to brāhmaṇas and if in hell they are gratified by the balls offered on the ground.1123a