Adhyaya 11

Verse 1

भीष्म उवाच । कस्मिन्वासरभागे तु श्राद्धी श्राद्धं समाचरेत् । तीर्थेषु केषु वै श्राद्धं कृतं बहुफलं द्विज

Bhīṣma said: “At what part of the day should one who intends to perform śrāddha duly carry out the śrāddha? And at which sacred tīrthas does śrāddha, when performed, yield abundant fruit, O twice-born one?”

Verse 2

पुलस्त्य उवाच । तीर्थं तु पुष्करं नाम यत्तु श्रेष्ठतमं स्मृतम् । सर्वेषां द्विजमुख्यानां मनोरथमिव स्थितम्

Pulastya said: “There is a sacred pilgrimage site called Puṣkara, remembered as the most excellent of tīrthas—abiding like the very heart’s desire of all the foremost among the twice-born.”

Verse 3

तत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तमनन्तं भवति ध्रुवम् । पितॄणां वल्लभं नित्यमृषीणां परमं मतम्

There, whatever is given in charity, offered into the sacred fire, or recited in japa becomes endless—this is certain. It is ever dear to the ancestors (pitṛs) and is regarded as the highest teaching of the sages.

Verse 4

नंदाथ ललिता तद्वत्तीर्थं मायापुरी शुभा । तथा मित्रपदं राजंस्ततः केदारमुत्तमम्

Then (come) Nandā and Lalitā; likewise the sacred tīrtha there; the auspicious Māyāpurī; and also Mitrapada, O king; and thereafter the excellent Kedāra.

Verse 5

गंगासागरमित्याहुः सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् । तीर्थं ब्रह्मसरस्तद्वच्छतद्रुसलिलं शुभम्

They say that Gaṅgāsāgara is auspicious and contains the merit of all sacred fords (tīrthas). Likewise, Brahma-saras is a holy tīrtha, and so too are the auspicious waters of the Śatadru (river).

Verse 6

तीर्थं तु नैमिषं नाम सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम् । गंगोद्भेदस्तु गोमत्यां यत्रोद्भूतः सनातनः

There is a sacred tīrtha called Naimiṣa, bestowing the fruits of all holy places. There, in the river Gomati, the eternal emergence of the Gaṅgā is made manifest.

Verse 7

तथा यज्ञवराहस्तु देवदेवश्च शूलधृक् । यत्र तत्कांचनं दानमष्टादशभुजो हरः

Likewise, there Yajña-Varāha is worshipped, and the God of gods who bears the trident. There too the gift of gold is extolled, for Hara—the eighteen-armed Lord—is present.

Verse 8

नेमिस्तु धर्मचक्रस्य शीर्णा यत्राभवत्पुरा । तदेतन्नैमिशारण्यं सर्वतीर्थनिषेवितम्

This is the Naimiṣa Forest, where long ago the rim (nemi) of the Wheel of Dharma was worn away. It is visited and revered by all tīrthas.

Verse 9

देवदेवस्य तत्रापि वराहस्य च दर्शनम् । यः प्रयाति स पूतात्मा नारायणपुरं व्रजेत्

There too one attains darśana—the sacred sight—of the God of gods, and also of Varāha. Whoever departs after visiting becomes pure in spirit and proceeds to Nārāyaṇa’s city, Nārāyaṇapura.

Verse 10

कोकामुखं परं तीर्थमिन्द्रमार्गोपि लक्ष्यते । अथापि पितृतीर्थं तु ब्रह्मणोव्यक्तजन्मनः

Kokāmukha is a supreme tīrtha, and there the Path of Indra is also beheld. There too is the ancestral (Pitṛ) tīrtha of Brahmā, whose birth is unmanifest.

Verse 11

पुष्करारण्यसंस्थोसौ यत्र देवः पितामहः । विरिंचिदर्शनं श्रेष्ठमपवर्गफलप्रदम्

He abides in the forest of Puṣkara, where the divine Grandsire, Pitāmaha, dwells. The vision of Viriñci (Brahmā) is supreme, bestowing the fruit of liberation (mokṣa).

Verse 12

कृतं नाम महापुण्यं सर्वपापनिषूदनम् । यत्राद्यो नारसिंहस्तु स्वयमेव जनार्दनः

There is a place called Kṛta—supremely meritorious and the destroyer of all sins—where the primal Narasiṃha is none other than Janārdana (Viṣṇu) Himself.

Verse 13

तीर्थमिक्षुमतीनाम पितॄणां च शुभावहा । तुष्यन्ति पितरो नित्यं गंगायमुनसंगमे

There is a sacred ford called Ikṣumatī, auspicious for the ancestors. At the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, the Pitṛs are always satisfied.

Verse 14

कुरुक्षेत्रं महापुण्यं यत्र मार्गोपि लक्ष्यते । अद्यापि पितृतीर्थं तु सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

Kurukṣetra is supremely meritorious—so renowned that even its very route is clearly known. Even today, the Pitṛ-tīrtha there bestows the fruits of all desired aims.

Verse 15

नीलकण्ठमिति ख्यातं पितृतीर्थं नराधिप । तथा भद्रसरः पुण्यं सरो मानसमेव च

O king, there is a Pitṛ-tīrtha renowned as Nīlakaṇṭha; likewise the holy lake called Bhadrasaras, and also the lake Mānasa.

Verse 16

मंदाकिनी तथाऽच्छोदा विपाशा च सरस्वती । सर्वमित्रपदं तद्वद्वैद्यनाथं महाफलम्

Mandākinī, likewise Acchodā, Vipāśā, and Sarasvatī; so too the sacred place called Sarvamitrapada; and similarly Vaidyanātha—these all yield great spiritual fruit to those who visit and worship.

Verse 17

क्षिप्रा नदी तथा पुण्या तथा कालञ्जरं शुभम् । तीर्थोद्भेदं हरोद्भेदं गर्भभेदं महालयम्

The river Kṣiprā is likewise sacred; likewise the auspicious Kālañjara. So too Tīrthodbheda, Harodbheda, Garbhabheda, and Mahālaya are holy places.

Verse 18

भद्रेश्वरं विष्णुपदं नर्मदा द्वारमेव च । गयापिंडप्रदानेन समान्याहुर्महर्षयः

The great sages declare that Bhadreśvara, Viṣṇupada, and the gateway of the Narmadā are equal in merit to offering the funeral rice-balls (piṇḍa) at Gayā.

Verse 19

एतानि पितृतीर्थानि सर्वपापहराणि च । स्मरणादपि लोकानां किमु श्राद्धप्रदायिनाम्

These are ancestral tīrthas (pitṛ-tīrthas) that remove all sins. If they purify people even by mere remembrance, how much more so those who offer śrāddha there?

Verse 20

ओंकारं पितृतीर्थं तु कावेरीकपिलोदकम् । संभेदश्चण्डवेगायां तथैवामरकंटकम्

Om̐kāra; the ancestral sacred ford (pitṛ-tīrtha); the waters of the Kāverī and of the Kapilā; the confluence on the Caṇḍavegā; and likewise Amarakaṇṭaka—these are named as holy places.

Verse 21

कुरुक्षेत्राच्चद्विगुणं तस्मिन्स्नानादिकं भवेत् । शुक्लतीर्थं तु विख्यातं तीर्थं सोमेश्वरं परम्

It bestows merit twice that of Kurukṣetra; bathing and other sacred rites performed there bear such fruit. That holy ford is famed as Śukla-tīrtha, and the supreme place of pilgrimage there is Someśvara.

Verse 22

सर्वव्याधिहरंपुण्यंफलंकोटिगुणाधिकम् । श्राद्धेदानेतथाहोमेस्वाध्यायेचापिसन्निधौ

Its merit is holy, it removes all diseases, and it yields a reward multiplied ten millionfold—whether in śrāddha for the ancestors, in dāna (gifting), in homa (fire-offerings), and also in the presence of svādhyāya (Vedic study and recitation).

Verse 23

कायावारोहणं नाम देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । अवतारं रोचमानं ब्राह्मणावसथे शुभे

There is a manifestation called “Kāyāvarohaṇa” of the Lord of Lords, Śiva the trident-bearer—a radiant descent that appeared in an auspicious Brahmin dwelling.

Verse 24

जातं तत्सुमहापुण्यं तथा चर्मण्वती नदी । शूलतापी पयोष्णी च पयोष्णीसंगमस्तथा

There arose that exceedingly meritorious sacred region; and likewise the river Carmaṇvatī, as well as Śūlatāpī and Payoṣṇī—together with the holy confluence (saṅgama) of the Payoṣṇī.

Verse 25

महौषधी चारणा च नागतीर्थप्रवर्त्तिनी । महावेणा नदी पुण्या महाशालस्तथैव च

Also mentioned are Mahauṣadhī, Cāraṇā, and Nāgatīrtha-pravartinī; the sacred river Mahāveṇā; and likewise Mahāśāla.

Verse 26

गोमती वरुणा तद्वत्तीर्थं हौताशनं परम् । भैरवं भृगुतुंगं च गौरीतीर्थमनुत्तमम्

The Gomati, the Varuṇā, and likewise that sacred ford; the supremely holy Hautāśana; Bhairava; Bhṛgutunga; and the unsurpassed Gaurī-tīrtha.

Verse 27

तीर्थं वैनायकं नाम वस्त्रेश्वरमनुत्तमम् । तथा पापहरं नाम पुण्या वेत्रवती नदी

There is a sacred ford called Vaināyaka, and the unsurpassed holy place Vastreśvara. Likewise, there is a tīrtha named Pāpahara; and the holy river Vetravatī is there.

Verse 28

महारुद्रं महालिंगं दशार्णा च महानदी । शतरुद्रा शताह्वा च तथा पितृपदं पुरम्

Mahārudra, the great Liṅga, the Daśārṇā—also the great river—Śatarudrā, Śatāhvā, and likewise the city called Pitṛpada.

Verse 29

अंगारवाहिका तद्वन्नदौ द्वौ शोणघर्घरौ । कालिका च नदी पुण्या पितरा च नदी शुभा

Likewise there is the river Aṅgāravāhikā; and there are two rivers, Śoṇa and Gharghara. Also there is the holy river Kālikā, and the auspicious river Pitarā.

Verse 30

एतानि पितृतीर्थानि शस्यंते स्नानदानयोः । श्राद्धमेतेषु यद्दत्तं तदनंतफलं स्मृतम्

These are praised as pitṛ-tīrthas, ancestral sacred fords, for bathing and for dāna (charitable giving). Whatever Śrāddha is offered at these places is remembered to yield infinite merit.

Verse 31

शतावटा नदी ज्वाला शरद्वी च नदी तथा । द्वारका कृष्णतीर्थं च तथा ह्युदक्सरस्वती

The rivers Śatāvaṭā and Jvālā, and likewise the river Śaradvī; also Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa’s sacred ford (tīrtha), and also the Udaksarasvatī.

Verse 32

नदी मालवती नाम तथा च गिरिकर्णिका । धूतपापं तथा तीर्थं समुद्रे दक्षिणे तथा

There is a river named Mālavatī, and also (one called) Girikarṇikā; likewise there is the sacred ford named Dhūtapāpa, situated on the southern sea.

Verse 33

गोकर्णो गजकर्णश्च तथा चक्रनदी शुभा । श्रीशैलं शाकतीर्थं च नारसिंहमतः परम्

Gokarṇa, Gajakarṇa, and the auspicious Cakranadī; Śrīśaila, Śākatīrtha, and then, beyond these, (the shrine of) Narasiṃha—these are the sacred places.

Verse 34

महेंद्रं च तथा पुण्या पुण्या चापि महानदी । एतेष्वपि सदा श्राद्धमनंतफलदं स्मृतम्

Likewise at Mahendra, at Puṇyā, and also at the great river Puṇyā—performing śrāddha in these places is always remembered as bestowing endless results.

Verse 35

दर्शनादपि पुण्यानि सद्यः पापहराणि वै । तुंगभद्रा नदी पुण्या तथा चक्ररथीति च

Even merely seeing them is meritorious; indeed, they remove sins at once. The river Tuṅgabhadrā is sacred, and likewise the holy place called Cakrarathī.

Verse 36

भीमेश्वरं कृष्णवेणा कावेरी चांजना नदी । नदी गोदावरी पुण्या त्रिसंध्या पूर्णमुत्तमम्

Bhīmeśvara; the rivers Kṛṣṇaveṇā and Kāverī; the Aṃjanā river; and the sacred Godāvarī—these, together with Trisaṃdhyā, are supremely excellent and complete holy places.

Verse 37

तीर्थं त्रैयंबकं नाम सर्वतीर्थनमस्कृतम् । यत्रास्ते भगवान्भीमः स्वयमेव त्रिलोचनः

There is a sacred ford called Traiyambaka, revered as one saluted by all other holy places; there Lord Bhīma—Trilocana, the Three-eyed One—abides in person.

Verse 38

श्राद्धमेतेषु सर्वेषु दत्तं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । स्मरणादपि पापानि व्रजंति शतधा नृप

O king, a śrāddha offering made at all these sacred places becomes multiplied a crore-fold; even by merely remembering them, sins depart a hundredfold.

Verse 39

श्रीपर्णा च नदी पुण्या व्यासतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । तथा मत्स्यनदी कारा शिवधारा तथैव च

Also there are the sacred river Śrīparṇā, the unsurpassed pilgrimage-ford called Vyāsa-tīrtha; likewise the Matsya River, Kārā, and in the same way Śiva-dhārā.

Verse 40

भवतीर्थं च विख्यातं पुण्यतीर्थं च शाश्वतम् । पुण्यं रामेश्वरं तद्वद्वेणापुरमलंपुरम्

Bhavatīrtha is renowned, an everlasting holy ford; likewise, the sacred Rāmeśvara is meritorious—and so too are Veṇāpura and Malaṃpura.

Verse 41

अंगारकं च विख्यातमात्मदर्शमलंबुषम् । वत्सव्रातेश्वरं तद्वत्तथागोकामुखं परम्

Also (there is) the renowned Aṅgāraka; the tīrtha called Ātma-darśa; Alambuṣa; likewise Vatsavrāṭeśvara; and in the same manner the supreme tīrtha named Gokāmukha.

Verse 42

गोवर्द्धनं हरिश्चंद्रं पुरश्चन्द्रं पृथूदकम् । सहस्राक्षं हिरण्याक्षं तथा च कदलीनदी

Govardhana, Hariścandra, Puraścandra, Pṛthūdaka; Sahasrākṣa, Hiraṇyākṣa—and also the Kadālī River.

Verse 43

नामधेयानि च तथा तथा सौमित्रिसंगतम् । इंद्रनीलं महानादं तथा च प्रियमेलकम्

And likewise he mentioned the names as well—Saumitrisaṅgata, Indranīla, Mahānāda, and also Priyamelaka.

Verse 44

एतान्यपि सदा श्राद्धे प्रशस्तान्यधिकानि च । एतेषु सर्वदेवानां सांनिध्यं पठ्यते यतः

These too are always commended for the śrāddha rite—indeed, they are especially praised—because it is taught that in these the presence of all the gods is obtained.

Verse 45

दानमेतेषु सर्वेषु भवेत्कोटिशताधिकम् । बाहुदा च नदी पुण्या तथा सिद्धवटं शुभम्

Among all these gifts, the merit of dāna becomes more than a hundred koṭis; likewise, the river Bāhudā is sacred, and so too is the auspicious Siddhavaṭa.

Verse 46

तीर्थं पाशुपतं चैव नदी पर्यटिका तथा । श्राद्धमेतेषु सर्वेषु दत्तं कोटिशतोत्तरम्

At the Pāśupata sacred place, and likewise on the river called Paryaṭikā, any śrāddha offering made at all these sites yields merit exceeding hundreds of crores (koṭis).

Verse 47

तथैव पंचतीर्थं च यत्र गोदावरी नदी । युता लिंगसहस्रेण सव्येतर जलावहा

Likewise there is the sacred Pañcatīrtha, where the river Godāvarī flows—accompanied by a thousand liṅgas—bearing its waters along both the left and the right banks.

Verse 48

जामदग्न्यस्य तत्तीर्थं मोदायतनमुत्तमम् । प्रतीकस्य भयात्सिद्धा यत्र गोदावरी नदी

That sacred ford of Jāmadagnya is the excellent shrine called Modāyatana, where the river Godāvarī flows, made holy and efficacious as a place of attainment through fear of Pratīka.

Verse 49

तीर्थं तद्धव्यकव्यानामप्सरोगणसंयुतम् । श्राद्धाग्नि दानकार्यं च तत्र कोटिशताधिकम्

That sacred tīrtha is attended by hosts of Apsarās, and there offerings to the gods and the ancestors are especially efficacious; the merit of performing śrāddha rites, maintaining the ritual fire, and giving charity there increases by more than a hundred crores (koṭis).

Verse 50

तथा सहस्रलिंगं च राघवेश्वरमुत्तमम् । सेन्द्रकाला नदी पुण्या तत्र शक्रो गतः पुरा

Likewise there are Sahasraliṅga and the excellent shrine of Rāghaveśvara. There too flows the holy river Sendrakālā; in ancient times Śakra (Indra) went there.

Verse 51

निहत्य नमुचिं मित्रं तपसा स्वर्गमाप्तवान् । तत्र दत्तं नरैः श्राद्धमनंतफलदं भवेत्

Having slain his friend Namuci, he attained heaven through the power of austerity (tapas). Any śrāddha offering made there by people is said to bestow endless fruit.

Verse 52

पुष्करं नाम वै तीर्थं शालग्रामं तथैव च । शोणपातश्च विख्यातो यत्र वैश्वानराशयः

There is the sacred ford called Puṣkara, and likewise Śālagrāma; and famed too is Śoṇapāta, where the abode (or reservoir) of Vaiśvānara is found.

Verse 53

तीर्थं सारस्वतं चैव स्वामितीर्थं तथैव च । मलंदरा नदी पुण्या कौशिकी चंद्रका तथा

There are the Sārasvata Tīrtha and likewise the Svāmitīrtha; the holy river Malaṃdarā; and also Kauśikī and Caṃdrakā.

Verse 54

विदर्भा चाथ वेगा च पयोष्णी प्राङ्मुखा परा । कावेरी चोत्तरांगा च तथा जालंधरो गिरिः

Also there are Vidarbhā, Vegā, Payoṣṇī, and the excellent Prāṅmukhā; and Kāverī, Uttarāṅgā, and likewise the mountain Jālaṃdhara.

Verse 55

एतेषु श्राद्धतीर्थेषु श्राद्धमानंत्यमश्नुते । लोहदंडं तथा तीर्थं चित्रकूटस्तथैव च

By performing śrāddha at these sacred śrāddha-tīrthas, one attains endless merit. Likewise, there are the tīrtha called Lohadaṇḍa, and also Citrakūṭa.

Verse 56

दिव्यं सर्वत्र गंगायास्तथा नद्यास्तटं शुभम् । कुब्जाम्रकं तथा तीर्थमुर्वशीपुलिनं तथा

Everywhere along the Gaṅgā is divine; likewise, the auspicious bank of the river is holy. Holy too are the tīrtha called Kubjāmraka, and likewise the sandbank known as Urvaśī-pulina.

Verse 57

संसारमोचनं तीर्थं तथैव ऋणमोचनम् । एतेषु पितृतीर्थेषु श्राद्धमानंत्यमश्नुते

There is the sacred ford called Saṃsāra-mocana, liberation from worldly bondage, and likewise the tīrtha called Ṛṇa-mocana, release from debts. At these ancestral tīrthas, one who performs śrāddha attains endless spiritual merit.

Verse 58

अट्टहासं तथा तीर्थं गौतमेश्वरमेव च । तथा वसिष्ठतीर्थं च भारतं च ततः परम्

He also spoke of the sacred ford called Aṭṭahāsa, and of Gautameśvara; likewise of Vasiṣṭha-tīrtha—and then, beyond that, Bhārata, the land of India.

Verse 59

ब्रह्मावर्तं कुशावर्तं हंसतीर्थं तथैव च । पिंडारकं च विख्यातं शंखोद्धारं तथैव च

Brahmāvarta, Kuśāvarta, and Haṃsatīrtha; likewise the renowned Piṇḍāraka, and also Śaṅkhoddhāra—sacred places to be remembered and visited.

Verse 60

भांडेश्वरं बिल्वकं च नीलपर्वतमेव च । तथा च बदरीतीर्थं सर्वतीर्थेश्वरेश्वरम्

And he spoke of Bhāṇḍeśvara, Bilvaka, and also Nīlaparvata; likewise of the Badarī-tīrtha—supreme, the Lord over all lords of pilgrimage-sites.

Verse 61

वसुधाराह्वयं तीर्थं रामतीर्थं तथैव च । जयंती विजया चैव शुक्लतीर्थं तथैव च

The sacred ford called Vasudhārā, and likewise the Rāma-tīrtha; and also the tīrthas named Jayantī and Vijayā, as well as Śukla-tīrtha.

Verse 62

एषु श्राद्धप्रदातारः प्रयांति परमं पदम् । तीर्थं मातृगृहं नाम करवीरपुरं तथा

Those who offer śrāddha at these places attain the supreme state. Among them are the sacred ford called Mātṛgṛha, and also Karavīrapura.

Verse 63

सप्तगोदावरीनाम सर्वतीर्थेश्वरेश्वरम् । तत्र श्राद्धं प्रदातव्यमनंतफलमीप्सुभिः

At Saptagodāvarī—revered as the supreme lord among all holy places—those who seek endless merit should perform śrāddha there.

Verse 64

कीकटेषु गया पुण्या पुण्यं राजगृहं वनम् । च्यवनस्याश्रमं पुण्यं नदी पुण्या पुनःपुना

In the land of the Kīkaṭas, Gayā is sacred; the forest of Rājagṛha is sacred. Sacred too is the hermitage of Cyavana, and the river is sacred again and again.

Verse 65

विषयाराधनं पुण्यं नदी या तु पुनःपुना । यत्र गाथा विचरति ब्रह्मणा परिकीर्तिता

Blessed, again and again, is that river whose worship brings merit—where the sacred hymn moves about, as proclaimed by Brahmā.

Verse 66

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत्

One should desire many sons—for if even one of them goes to Gayā for the ancestral rite. Otherwise, one may perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice, or release a dark-blue bull as a sacred gift.

Verse 67

एषा गाथा विचरति तीर्थेष्वायतनेषु च । सर्वे मनुष्या राजेंद्र कीर्त्तयंतः समागताः

O king, this sacred gāthā circulates through pilgrimage fords (tīrthas) and holy shrines; and people everywhere gather together, singing it in praise.

Verse 68

किमस्माकं कुले कश्चिद्गयां यास्यति यः सुतः । प्रीणयिष्यति तान्गत्वा सप्तपूर्वांस्तथापरान्

Will there be any son in our lineage who will go to Gayā and, having gone there, will gratify them—our seven ancestors and also the later ones?

Verse 69

मातामहानामप्येवं श्रुतिरेषा चिरंतनी । गंगायामस्थिनिचयं गत्वा क्षेप्स्यति यः सुतः

Thus, even regarding one’s maternal grandfathers, there is this ancient tradition: the son who goes to the Gaṅgā and casts there the gathered bones (ashes/remains) fulfills the rite.

Verse 70

तिलैः सप्ताष्टभिर्वापि दास्यते च जलांजलिम् । अरण्यत्रितये वापि पिंडदानं करिष्यति

He should offer a handful of water mixed with seven or eight sesame seeds; and in the triad of forests as well, he should perform piṇḍa-dāna, the offering of rice-balls.

Verse 71

प्रथमं पुष्करारण्ये नैमिषे तदनंतरं । धर्मारण्यं पुनः प्राप्य श्राद्धं भक्त्या प्रदास्यति

First in the forest of Puṣkara, then thereafter at Naimiṣa; and again, having reached Dharmāraṇya, he will offer the śrāddha with devotion.

Verse 72

गयायां धर्मपृष्ठे वा सरसि ब्रह्मणस्तथा । गयाशीर्षवटे चैव पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्

At Gayā—whether at Dharmapṛṣṭha, or at the lake of Brahmā, and also at the banyan tree on Gayāśīrṣa—whatever is offered to the forefathers becomes imperishable.

Verse 73

व्रजन्कृत्वा निवापं यस्त्वध्वानं परिसर्पति । नरकस्थान्पितॄन्सोपि स्वर्गं नयति सत्वरं

Whoever, while travelling on a journey, makes an offering (nivāpa) and proceeds along the road—he too swiftly leads even those ancestors who are in hell to heaven.

Verse 74

कुले तस्य न राजेंद्र प्रेतो भवति कश्चन । प्रेतत्वं मोक्षभावं च पिंडदानाच्च गच्छति

O king, in his lineage no one becomes a preta (restless spirit). Through the offering of piṇḍas, one is freed from the state of preta-hood and attains the condition conducive to liberation.

Verse 75

एको मुनिस्ताम्रकराग्रहस्तो ह्याम्रेषु मूले सलिलं ददाति । आम्राश्च सिक्ताः पितरश्च तृप्ता एका क्रिया द्व्यर्थकरी प्रसिद्धा

A single sage, holding a copper vessel in his hand, pours water at the root of the mango tree. The mango trees are watered and the ancestors are satisfied—one act, famously, accomplishes two purposes.

Verse 76

गयायां पिण्डदानस्य नान्यद्दानं विशिष्यते । एकेन पिंडदानेन तृप्तास्ते मोक्षगामिनः

In Gayā, no gift surpasses the offering of piṇḍa (funerary oblations). By a single piṇḍa-offering, the departed are satisfied and proceed upon the path to liberation (mokṣa).

Verse 77

धान्यप्रदानं प्रवरं वदंति वसुप्रदानं च तथामुनींद्राः । गया सुतीर्थेषु नरैः प्रदत्तं तद्धर्महेतुं प्रवरं वदंति

The sages declare the gift of grain to be excellent, and likewise the gift of wealth. Yet they proclaim that whatever people give at Gayā and at other sacred fords (tīrthas) becomes a supreme cause of dharma (merit).

Verse 78

सर्वात्मना सुरुचिना महाचल महानदी । ये तु पश्यंति तां गत्वा मानसे दक्षिणोत्तरे

With their whole being, and with pure delight, those who go and behold that great mountain and the mighty river at Mānasarovara—on its southern and northern sides—are blessed.

Verse 79

प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्येभ्यः प्राप्तं तैर्जन्मनः फलं । यद्यदिच्छति वै मर्त्यस्तत्तदाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

Having bowed to the foremost of the twice-born (dvija), a mortal gains the true fruit of birth; whatever he wishes for, that he attains—without doubt.

Verse 80

एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तस्तीर्थानां सग्रहो मया । वागीशोपि न शक्नोति विस्तरात्किमु मानुषः

Thus have I spoken only in brief, as a compendium of the sacred tīrthas. Even Vāgīśa (Bṛhaspati), lord of speech, cannot describe them in full—how much less can a mere human?

Verse 81

सत्यं तीर्थं दया तीर्थं तीर्थमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः । वर्णाश्रमाणां गेहेपि तीर्थं शम उदाहृतम्

Truth is a sacred tīrtha; compassion is a sacred tīrtha; restraint of the senses is a sacred tīrtha. Even in the household life of those who uphold the duties of varṇa and āśrama, tranquility (śama) is declared to be a tīrtha.

Verse 82

येषु तीर्थेषु यच्छ्राद्धं तत्कोटिगुणमिष्यते । गयायां यत्तु वै श्राद्धं तच्छ्राद्धमपवर्गदम्

Whatever śrāddha is performed at those tīrthas is said to yield merit a crore-fold; but the śrāddha performed at Gayā, indeed, is a śrāddha that grants liberation (apavarga).

Verse 83

यस्मात्तस्मात्प्रयत्नेन तीर्थे श्राद्धं विधीयते । प्रातःकालो मुहूर्तांस्त्रीन्संगवस्तावदेव तु

Therefore, for that very reason, one should diligently perform the śrāddha rite at a tīrtha. The proper time is the morning—three muhūrtas; and the forenoon (saṅgava) is of the same measure.

Verse 84

मध्याह्नस्त्रिमुहूर्तः स्यादपराह्णस्ततः परम् । सायाह्नस्त्रिमुहूर्तः स्याच्छ्राद्धं तत्र न कारयेत्

Midday consists of three muhūrtas; after that comes the afternoon. The evening too consists of three muhūrtas—one should not have the śrāddha performed at that time.

Verse 85

राक्षसी नाम सा वेला गर्हिता सर्वकर्मसु । अह्नो मुहूर्ता व्याख्याता दशपंच च सर्वदा

That period of time is called “Rākṣasī” and is condemned for all undertakings. The daytime divisions (muhūrtas) are explained as always being fifteen in number.

Verse 86

तत्राष्टमो मुहूर्तो यः स कालः कुतपः स्मृतः । मध्याह्नात्सर्वदा यस्मान्मंदी भवति भास्करः

There, the eighth muhūrta is remembered as the time called Kutapa, for after midday the Sun (Bhāskara) ever begins to soften the fierceness of his radiance.

Verse 87

तस्मादनंतफलदस्तत्रारंभो विशिष्यते । खड्गपात्रं च कुतपस्तथा नैपालकंबलम्

Therefore, an undertaking begun in that time is deemed especially distinguished, for it yields endless fruits—such as gifts of a sword-vessel, a woollen rug, and a Nepalese blanket.

Verse 88

रुक्मं दर्भास्तिला गावो दौहित्रश्चाष्टमः स्मृतः । पापं कुत्सितमित्याहुस्तस्य तत्तापकारिणः

Gold, darbha grass, sesame seeds, cows, and a daughter’s son are remembered as the eighth. They declare sin to be ‘base’ (kutsita), for it brings about its corresponding torment.

Verse 89

अष्टावेते यतस्तस्मात्कुतपा इति विश्रुताः । ऊर्ध्वं मुहुर्त्तात्कुतपान्महूर्त्तं च चतुष्टयम्

Because these are eight in number, they are therefore renowned as the ‘Kutapā’. And above the Kutapā period there is a set of four muhūrtas, a fourfold division of time.

Verse 90

मुहूर्त्तपंचकं चैव स्वधावाचनमिष्यते । विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूताः कुशाः कृष्णतिलास्तथा

A span of five muhūrtas is likewise enjoined for the recitation of the Svadhā-invocation; and it is said that kuśa grass and black sesame, too, arose from the body of Viṣṇu.

Verse 91

श्राद्धस्य लक्षणं कालमिति प्राहुर्मनीषिणः । तिलोदकांजलिर्देयो जलांते तीर्थवासिभिः

The wise declare that the defining mark of the śrāddha rite is its proper timing. Those who dwell at sacred tīrthas should offer, at the water’s edge, an añjali of water mixed with sesame.

Verse 92

सदर्भहस्तेनैकेन गृहे श्राद्धं गमिष्यति । पुण्यं पवित्रमायुष्यं सर्वपापविनाशनम्

Even one who goes to perform the śrāddha at home with a single hand holding darbha grass attains merit—pure, life-promoting, and destructive of all sins.

Verse 93

ब्रह्मणा चैव कथितं तीर्थश्राद्धानुकीर्तनम् । शृणोति यः पठेद्वापि श्रीमान्संजायते नरः

This account of śrāddha performed at sacred tīrthas, as taught by Brahmā—whoever listens to it or even recites it, becomes endowed with prosperity and auspicious fortune.

Verse 94

श्राद्धकाले च वक्तव्यं तथा तीर्थनिवासिभिः । सर्वपापोपशांन्त्यर्थमलक्ष्मीनाशनं मतं

It should be recited at the time of śrāddha, and likewise by those dwelling at sacred pilgrimage places; it is held to pacify all sins and to destroy misfortune (alakṣmī).

Verse 95

इदं पवित्रं यशसो निधानमिदं महापातकनाशनं च । ब्रह्मार्करुद्रैरभिपूजितं च श्राद्धस्य माहात्म्यमुशंति तज्ज्ञाः

This is purifying, a treasury of good repute, and a destroyer of great sins. It is also worshipped by Brahmā, the Sun, and Rudra—such, the wise declare, is the greatness of Śrāddha.