Anushasanika Parva — The ordinances about Shraddha

Yudhishthira said You have described to me, you of righteous soul, the duties of the four castes. Do you, similarly, O king, describe to me now all the ordinances regarding the Shraddha.

Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by Yuthishthira, the son of Shantanu began of recite to him the following ritual, consistent with the ordinances, of the Shraddha.

Bhishma said Listen, O king, with rapt attention, to me as I describe to you the ritual of the Shraddha. or That ritual is auspicious, laudable, productive of fame and progeny, and is considered as a sacrifice, O scorcher of enemies, in honour of the departed Manes.

Gods or Asuras human beings, Gandharvas or Uragas or Rakshasas, Pishachas or Kinnaras, every one should always adore the departed Manes.

It is seen that people adore the departed Manes first, and please the celestials next by offering them their worship. Hence, one should always adore the departed Manes with every care.

It is said, O king, that the Shraddha perforined in honour of the departed Manes is performable afterwards. But this general rule has a special restraint.

The (deceased) grandfather become gratified with the Shraddha that may be performed on any day. I shall, however, tell you now what the merits and demerits are of the respective lunar days.

I shall describe to you, O sinless one, what fruits are attained on what days by performing the Shraddha. Do you listen to me with rapt attention.

By worshipping the departed Manes on the first day of the light fortnight, one obtains in his abode beautiful wives capable of producing many children all endued with desirable accomplishments.

By performing the Shraddha on the second day of the light fortnight, one gets many daughters. By performing on the third day, one acquires many horses. By performing it on the fourth day, one gets a large herd of smaller arimals in his house.

They, O king, who perform the Shraddha on the fifth day, get many sons. Those men who perform the Shraddha on the sixth day, acquire great splendour.

By performing it on the seventh day, O king, one wins great fame. By performing it on the eighth day one, secures great profits in commercial pursuits.

By performing it on the ninth day, one, acquires many animals of uncloven hoofs. By performing it on the tenth day, one acquires many valuable kine.

By performing it on the eleventh day one gets valuable cloths and utensils. Such a man also gets many sons all of whom become endued with Brahma splendour.

By performing the Shraddha on the twelfth day, one always sees if he desires various sorts of beautiful silver and gold articles.

on By performing the Shraddha the thirteenth day, one reigns supreme over his kinsmen. Forsooth, all the young men in the family of him who performs the Shraddha on the fourteenth day die. Such a man becomes entangled in war. By performing the Shraddha on the day of the new moon, one gets the fruition of every desire.

In the dark fortnight, all the days beginning with the tenth, Icaving only the fourteenth day out, are good days for the performance of the Shraddha. Other days of that fortnight are not SO.

Then, again, as the dark fortnight is better than the light one, so the afternoon of the day is better than the forenoon for the Shraddha.