Adhyaya 34: Account of the Origin of the Ancestors (Pitṛs) and the Regulations for Śrāddha Offerings

Verse 1

महातपा उवाच । पितॄणां सम्भवं राजन् कथ्यमानं निबोध मे । पूर्वं प्रजापतिब्रह्मा सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः ॥ ३४.१ ॥

Mahātapā said: “O king, understand from me the account being related concerning the origin of the Pitṛs (the Ancestors). Formerly, Prajāpati Brahmā, desiring to create diverse beings, (began the act of creation).”

Verse 2

एकाग्रमनसा सर्वास्तन्मात्रा मनसा बहिः । कृत्वा परमकं ब्रह्म ध्यायन् सर्गेप्सुरुच्छकैः ॥ ३४.२ ॥

With a one-pointed mind, having mentally set all the subtle elements (tanmātras) outward, he meditated upon the supreme Brahman—aspiring to bring forth creation—in an exalted state.

Verse 3

तस्यात्मनि तदा योगं गतस्य परमेष्ठिनः । तन्मात्रा निर्ययुर्देहाद् धूमवर्णाकृतित्विषः ॥ ३४.३ ॥

Then, as that Parameṣṭhin entered into yogic absorption within himself, the tanmātras—the subtle elements—issued forth from his body, bearing a smoke-like color, form, and luster.

Verse 4

पिबाम इति भाषन्तः सुरान् सोम इति स्म ह । ऊर्ध्वं जिगमिषन्तो वै वियत्संस्थास्तपस्विनः ॥ ३४.४ ॥

Saying, “Let us drink,” they indeed referred to the surā as “Soma”; and those ascetics—stationed in the sky—were truly intent on ascending upward.

Verse 5

तान्दृष्ट्वा सहसा ब्रह्मा तिर्यक्संस्थान उन्मुखान् । भवन्तः पितरः सन्तु सर्वेषां गृहमेधिनाम् ॥ ३४.५ ॥

Having suddenly seen them—facing upward, with forms set crosswise—Brahmā addressed them: “May you become the Pitṛs, the ancestral beings, for all householders.”

Verse 6

ऊर्ध्ववक्त्रास्तु ये तत्र ते नान्दीमुखसंज्ञिताः । वृद्धिश्राद्धेषु सततं पूज्या श्रुतिविधानतः ॥ ३४.६ ॥

Those who are ‘upward-faced’ there are designated as Nāndīmukhas. In rites of vṛddhi-śrāddha (śrāddha performed on occasions of auspicious increase), they are to be honored continually, in accordance with the injunctions of the Śruti.

Verse 7

अग्निं पुरस्कृतो यैस्तु ते द्विजा अग्निहोत्रिणः । नित्यैर्नैमित्तिकैः काम्यैः पार्वणैस्तर्पयन्तु तान् ॥ ३४.७ ॥

But those twice-born who place the sacred fire at the forefront—those who maintain the agnihotra—should satisfy those ancestors through rites that are nitya (daily), naimittika (occasional), kāmya (desire-motivated), and through the pārvana offerings.

Verse 8

बहिःप्रवरणा ये च क्षत्रियास्तर्पयन्तु तान् । आज्यं पिबन्ति ये चात्र तानर्चयन्तु विषः सदा ॥ ३४.८ ॥

Those Kṣatriyas who are called “bahiḥ-pravaraṇa” should satisfy those persons by offerings; and in this context the common people (viśaḥ) should always show reverence to those who drink ājya, the sacred clarified butter.

Verse 9

ब्राह्मणैरभ्यनुज्ञाताः शूद्राः स्वपितॄणामतः । तानेवार्चयतां सम्यग्विधिमन्त्रबहिष्कृताः ॥ ३४.९ ॥

Śūdras, when duly permitted by brāhmaṇas, may perform worship on account of their own ancestors; let them worship those ancestors properly—though excluded from the formal procedure and from Vedic mantras.

Verse 10

anAhitAgnayo ye cha brahmakShatravisho narAH | svakAlinaste.archayantu lokAgnipurataH sadA || 34.10 ||

Men—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and viśas—who have not established the sacrificial fires (anāhita-agni) should always perform worship at their proper times before the world-fire (lokāgni).

Verse 11

इत्येवं पूजिता यूयमिष्टान् कामान् प्रयच्छत । आयुः कीर्तिं धनं पुत्रान् विद्यामभिजनं स्मृतिम् ॥ ३४.११ ॥

“Thus, when you have been duly honored, grant the desired wishes—life, renown, wealth, sons, learning, noble lineage, and sound memory.”

Verse 12

इत्युक्त्वा तु तदा ब्रह्मा तेषां पन्थानमाकरॊत् । दक्षिणायनसंज्ञं तु पितॄणां च पितामहः ॥ ३४.१२ ॥

Having spoken thus, Brahmā then established their path—the route known as the Dakṣiṇāyana; and Pitāmaha, the Grandfather, ordained it for the Pitṛs, the ancestral beings.

Verse 13

तूष्णीं ससर्ज भूतानि तमूचुः पितरस्ततः । वृत्तिं नो देहि भगवन् यया विन्दामहे सुखम् ॥ ३४.१३ ॥

In silence he created the beings. Then the Pitṛs said to him: “O Bhagavān, grant us a means of livelihood by which we may obtain well-being.”

Verse 14

ब्रह्मा उवाच । अमावास्यादिनं वोऽस्तु तस्यां कुशतिलोदकैः । तर्पिता मानुषैस्तृप्तिं परां गच्छथ नान्यथा ॥ ३४.१४ ॥

Brahmā said: “Let the day of amāvāsyā (the new moon) be appointed for you; on that day, when human beings satisfy you through offerings of water with kuśa-grass and sesame, you attain the highest satisfaction—otherwise not.”

Verse 15

तिलाः देयास्तथैतस्यामुपोष्य पितृभक्तितः । परं तस्य सन्तुष्टा वरं यच्छत मा चिरम् ॥ ३४.१५ ॥

On that day sesame seeds should also be given; and, having fasted with devotion toward the ancestors, the Pitṛs become supremely satisfied and grant him a boon without delay.