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The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE29), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1886], at sacred-texts.com
1 1. Now at a Srâddha ceremony, at that which is celebrated on the Parvan day, or for the attainment of special wishes, or at the Âbhyudayika Srâddha (i.e. the Srâddha celebrated when some good luck has happened), or at the Ekoddishta Srâddha (the Srâddha directed to a single dead person)—
2. He causes Brâhmanas who are endowed with learning, moral character, and correct conduct, or with one of these (characteristics), who have been invited in time, who have taken a bath, washed their feet, and sipped water, to sit down, as representatives of the Fathers, with their faces turned to the north, one for each one of the Fathers, or two for each, or three for each.
3. The larger their number is, the greater is the reward (which the sacrificer is entitled to expect).
4. But in no case one (Brâhmana) for all (the fathers).
5 5. Optionally (he may invite only one Brâhmana) except at the first (Srâddha).
6 6. By (the exposition of) the Pinda sacrifice (the corresponding rules) have been declared (for the Srâddha ceremonies also).
7. Having given water (to the Brâhmanas),
8 8. Having given to them double-folded Darbha blades, and a seat,
9 9. Having (again) given water (to them),
10. Having poured water into three vessels of metal, of stone, and of earthen-ware, or (into three vessels) made of the same substance, over which he has put Darbha grass,
And having recited over (that water the verse), 'For luck and help the divine waters' (Rig-veda X, 9, 4), he pours sesamum seeds into it with (the formula), 'Sesamum art thou; Soma is thy deity; at the Gosava sacrifice thou hast been created by
the gods. By the ancients thou hast been offered. Through the funeral oblation render the Fathers and these worlds propitious to us. Svadhâ! Adoration!'
12 12. (The different rites are performed) from the right to the left.
13 13. With (the part) of the other (i.e. left) hand between the thumb (and the fore-finger), because he wears the sacrificial cord over his left shoulder, or with the right hand which he seizes with the left (he offers the Arghya water to the Fathers with the words), 'Father, this is thy Arghya. Grandfather, this is thy Arghya. Great-grandfather, this is thy Arghya'—having first offered (ordinary) water (to the Fathers).
14. When he is going to hand over that (Arghya water to the Brâhmanas who represent the Fathers, he says once each time), 'Svadhâ! The Arghya water!'
15 15. Over (the Arghya water) which has been
poured out, he should recite the verse, 'The celestial waters which have been produced on the earth, the aerial waters and the waters which are terrestrial, the gold-coloured ones, apt for sacrifice, may these waters bring us luck and be kind to us.' Pouring together what has been left (in the three Arghya vessels) he moistens his face with that water, if he desires that a son should be born to him.
16 16. 'He should not take up the first vessel, into which the Arghya water for the Fathers has been poured. Hidden the Fathers dwell therein: thus Saunaka has said.'
17 17. In that moment the gifts of perfumes, garlands, incense, lights, and clothes are offered (to the Brâhmanas).
18. Having taken some food (of the Sthâlîpâka prepared for the Pindapitriyagña), and having besmeared it with ghee, he asks (the Brâhmanas) for their permission by saying, 'I shall offer it in the fire,' or, 'I will sacrifice my offering in the fire,' or, 'I will offer it in the fire.'
19. The permission (is given in the words), 'It may be offered,' or, 'Sacrifice thy offering,' or, Offer it.'
20 20. He then sacrifices in the fire as stated above,
21 21. Or, if they give their permission, in the hands (of the Brâhmanas).
22. 'The mouth of the gods verily is the fire, the mouth of the Fathers is the hand'—thus says the Brâhmana.
23. If in the hands, he assigns to them other food, after they have sipped water.
24 24. The food (is put together) with the food.
25 25. It is said, 'What is given away and offered, that brings prosperity.'
26 26. When he sees that they are satiated, he should recite (the verses) containing the word m a dh u, and (the verse), 'They have eaten, they have enjoyed themselves' (Rig-veda I, 82, 2).
27 27. Having asked them, 'Relished?' and having taken the food, whatever food he has used, together with the Sthâlîpâka, in order to make lumps thereof, he should offer the rest (to the Brâhmanas).
28. After they have either accepted (that rest of food), or left it (to him), and have finished eating, he should, before they have sipped water, put down the lumps for the Fathers.
29. After they have sipped water, according to some (teachers).
30 30. Having strewn the food on the ground and suspended the sacrificial cord over his left shoulder, he should dismiss the Brâhmanas, (saying to them), 'Say Om! Svadhâ!'
31. Or, 'So be it! Svadhâ!'
250:1 7, 1. Comp. on the Srâddha ceremonies in general the note on Sâṅkhâyana-Grihya IV, 1, 1, and the quotations given there. The Pârvana Srâddha, which is celebrated on the new-moon day, is treated of by Sâṅkhâyana IV, 1, the Âbhyudayika Srâddha, IV, 4, the Ekoddishta Srâddha, IV, 2.
251:5 Anâdye. Of the different interpretations of this word which Nârâyana gives, it may suffice here to quote two. The first Srâddha may either mean the Pârvana Srâddha, because this stands first among the different kinds of Srâddha ceremonies enumerated in Sûtra 1; or it may mean the Sapindîkarana (see Sâṅkhâyana IV, 3), for this is the first occasion on which a dead person receives Srâddha oblations together with two others of the Fathers.
251:6 The sacrifice to the Manes, as forming part of the Srauta ritual, is explained in the Srauta-sûtra II, 6 seq.
251:8 Yâgñavalkya I, 229.
251:9 Yâgñavalkya I, 230. The reading of several words of the Mantra is doubtful, and the parallel texts, as Prof. Stenzler has not failed to observe, differ; especially the words pratnavadbhih prattah seem to me to be corrupt. The word pratnavat is only known to the Petersburg Dictionary as having the meaning, 'containing the word pratna,' which will not do here. Thus, I think that the reading pratnam adbhih priktah should be adopted; the translation would be, 'Anciently thou hast been mixed with water.'
252:12 Comp. Sâṅkhâyana-Grihya IV, 4, 6.
252:13 The part of the hand above the thumb is called the 'Tîrtha belonging to the Manes;' see, for instance, Baudhâyana's Dharma-sûtra I, 8, 16. The sacrificer is here understood to wear his sacrificial cord suspended over the left shoulder (he is 'yâgñopavîtin'). But as the oblation here treated of is directed to the Manes, it is required that he should be prâkînâvîtin. Now he is considered as prâkînâvîtin, according to Nârâyana, not only if the cord is suspended over his right shoulder (which is the ordinary meaning of prâkînâvîtin), but also if the hand with which he performs the rites, and the shoulder over which he wears the sacred cord, are either both right or both left. Thus here, acting with the left-hand and wearing the cord over the left shoulder, he becomes prâkînâvîtin.
The last word (appûrvam) is separated by Nârâyana from the rest, so that it forms a separate Sûtra.
252:15 The sacrificer gives the water to the Brâhmanas, and these p. 253 pour it out. Instead of prithivî sambabhûvuh (prithivî being intended as a locative; see Lanman, Noun-inflection in the Veda, p. 389) we should read, no doubt, as the parallel texts have, payasâ sambabhûvuh: 'The celestial waters which have united themselves with milk.'
253:16 This is a Sloka.
253:17 Manu III, 209; Yâgñavalkya I, 231.
253:20 The oblations alluded to in this Sûtra are prescribed in the Srauta-sûtra, II, 6, 12. They are directed to Soma pitrimat and to Agni kavyavâhana.
254:21 According to Manu (III, 212) this is done only in case there is no fire. Possibly abhyanugñâyâm belongs to Sûtra 20, so that we should have to translate, 'He then sacrifices . . . if they give their permission. Or in the hands.'
254:24 'The food which is left from the oblations he puts with the food (Sûtra 23) which is to be eaten by the Brâhmanas, and has been put into the vessels.' Nârâyana.
254:25 Is srishtam to be understood in the sense of visrishtam? Nârâyana explains it by prabhûtam.
254:26 The verses containing the word madhu are Rig-veda I, 90, 6-8.
254:27 On the question, 'Relished?' compare Sâṅkhâyana-Grihya IV, 2, 5. For several kinds of Srâddha ceremonies a Sthâlîpâka is prescribed, for others it is not; for the Srâddhas of the last kind the words 'Together with the Sthâlîpâka' are not valid.
255:30 They reply, 'Om! Svadhâ!'