5 - The Annual Rite

The lord said: 

1. Thus having burnt the corpse, having taken bath and offered sesame-water, they should return home, with woman-folk proceeding ahead. 

2. In the way, they should consume leaves of margosa tree and rinse their mouths while sitting on stone. 

3. Then having entered the house, the sons and relatives of the deceased should observe ashaucha for ten nights. 

4-5. Having brought food from the market, they should take meals. During the days of impurity, they should not take saline and pungent food. They should take bath thrice a day and abstain from taking meat. The couples should observe celibacy and sleep on the ground separately without touching each other. They should abstain from study as well charity. 

6-7. They should wear dirty clothes, move with downward faces and avoid all pleasures, They should leave shampooing of body, hair, etc. They should cat in earthen pots or in those made of dry leaves. They should observe fast on the cremation day or for more number of days during impurity. 

Garuda said: 

8. Sir, you have just stated that they should observe ashaucha. Now please tell us what is this ashaucha? What is its period? 

Lord Krishna said: 

9-10. The ten-day-period of ashaucha is prescribed for the relatives of the deceased on the father's side. This commences from the hour of birth, also with a view to obtain purity. 

11. Since the time of birth, purity can be had after three nights. After death, purity is attained after three days. 

12. After teething immediately, after chaula overnight, after Vratadesha for three nights, and for ten nights in other cases. 

13. Thus I have told you about ashaucha¹. Now I shall tell you in brief how purity is achievable, Water in the open and milk in an earthen pot should be kept for three days.

1. Impurity.

14. "Bathe here, drink here', this mantra should be recited, O Kashyapa. The sticks bound with a string should be placed on the crossroads in the night in order to propitiate the dead person. 

15. Bones should be gathered on the first, third, seventh or the ninth day by the relatives. 

16. The relatives² should touch the body of one another as prescribed, perform actions as far as they can and share in the common water-offerings.

2. Kinsmen of the same family, connected by funeral oblations of food and water.

17. Preta-pinda an offering to the mane) should be given outside, leaving aside grass. Churu³: should be given in the north-eastern direction, after bath and with calm mind.

3. An oblation of rice, barley and pulse boiled for presentation to the deities and manes.

18. For the non-purified on the ground, for the purified on the kusha grass, he should offer nine pindas in nine days i.e., one pinda on each day.

19. After giving the tenth pinda, one becomes pure after the night expires. One may be asagotra (indirect relation), sagotra (direct relation), man or woman. 

20. That which is given on the first day should be continued for ten days. It may be rice, saktu¹ or shaka².

1. The flour of barley first fried and then ground.

2. Any edible leaf, fruit or root used as a vegetable.

21. So far as there is ashaucha, a gift of one anjali should be made, i.e., so much of gift as joined hands can contain. 

22. Or else, the number should be equal to the number of days on which the gift is given, o bird, and the number on the last day should be fifty-five. 

23. Or these doubled shall be hundred anjalis. When there is ashaucha for three days anjalis shall be ten. 

24. These shall be three on the first day, four on the second day and three on the third day. 

25. If one hundred anjalis are given, then thirty should be given on the first day, forty on the second day and thirty on the third day. 

26. O bird, thus the water-offering is divided. For performing the rites of the manes, the son is the proper person. 

27. Pinda-praseka shall be done in silence and with flowers, incense, etc. On the tenth day, hath should be taken outside the village. 

28-29. Then they should leave their old clothes, hair, beard and nails. Brahmana is purified by touching water, Kshatriya by touching Vehicle, Vaishya by touching a goad (or a whip) or reins, and Shudra by touching stick after performing the rites. The relatives, younger in age, should undergo shave. 

30. Shodashi should be performed by offering sixteen pindas. 

31. O bird, the pindas given for ten days--one pinda on each day regularly, by sons, etc. are divided, each one into four. 

32. Two parts for the body, the third one for Yama's servants and by the fourth he lives. 

33. During nine days and nights, the body is formed. By offering the first pinda, the head of the Preta is formed. 

34. By the second, cars, eyes and nose. By the third, neck, shoulder, arms and chest. 

35. By the fourth pinda, navel and private parts. By the fifth thighs, calves. 

36. By the sixth all vital organs, by the seventh nerves, by the eighth teeth and hair, by the ninth semen. 

37. By the tenth fulness is achieved, hunger is satisfied. Now, I shall tell you, O Garuda, about Madhya-shodashi. 

38. The eleven beginning with Vishnu and ending with Vishnu. Then five shraddhas for the deities. This is called madhya-shodashi, O bird. 

39. If Narayana-bali is to be performed for the atonement of bad death, it should be done on the eleventh day. Vrushotsarga¹ rite is also prescribed for such a deceased.

1. Setting free a bull on the occasion of a funeral rite.

40. If the bull is not released on the eleventh day in favour of the deceased he remains ghost eternally, even if hundred shraddhas are performed for his sake. 

41. If the rite of pinda-palana is done without Vrushotsarga then all rites will go in vain. 

42. No rite is superior to Vrushotsarga. It is prescribed for the deceased and performed by his son, wife, grandson, father or daughter. 

43. Vrushotsarga is performed only after death. If the bull is released along with four she-calves duly decorated the deceased does not turn into ghost.

44. If the actual bull is not available on the eleventh day, a bull of darbhas and pishta should be made. 

45-46. If that too is not available, a bull made of mud and grass should be released. If an alive bull is desired to be released, it should be done on the eleventh day.

47. They should give bed, cow, etc. to the brahmanas in favour of the deceased. Brahmanas should be fed to satisfy the hunger of the departed soul. 

48. Now, 0 Vainateya, I shall tell you about the third Shodashi. Twelve for the twelve months and the half yearly one, and sapindikarana². These are called third shodashi. 

2. A rite the performance of which qualifies the deceased to share offerings with the Pitrus.

49. On the twelfth day for the three fortnights, half yearly, monthly and yearly. 

50. This too is called third shodashi according to another opinion. If these sixteen preta-shraddhas are not given. 

51. Then his ghost hood becomes permanent, even if hundred shraddhas are performed for his benefit. 

52-53. Shraddhas are performed on the eleventh or twelfth day, at the beginning of the month, every month, on the date of death, one day or three days, son of Vinata, every month, every six months, yearly, or on three fortnights. The rite of sapinda¹ is performed after a year or six months.

1. Connection by the offering of rice-balls to the same manes.

54. Or after three fortnights, at the rise of a planet or within twelve days, for, the family traditions are many and human life is short. 

55. Human life is transitory. It is better therefore to perform the rite of sapindi-karana within twelve days. O bird, Dow, I shall tell you about the method of spindikarana. 

56. O Kashyapa, it should be done by the process of ekoddishta. Four vessels should be made ready along with sesame, incense and water. 

57. Out of these one is the vessel for the preta, the other three are for the manes. O bird, the performer should sprinkle the three pitrupatras with the water from the pretapatra. 

58. Then four pindas should be offered and libations be made. Thereafter, the preta becomes one with the manes. 

59. Then, O bird, when the preta has become one with the manes, the manes should be worshipped along with him. 

60. If the woman ascends the pyre of her husband on the same day, then no separate sapindya is prescribed for her. 

61. If husband and wife are cremated together, there is one paka², one kala³ and one kartru⁴ O bird, you need not entertain any doubt in this.

2. Cooking.

3. Time.

4. Performer.

62. If she ascends the pyre on a different date, she should be offered a separate pinda on the separate date of death.

63. Every year, nine shraddhas should be performed together. 

64. If the sapindikarana is done before a year has passed, then a monthly offering of a water-jar should be made for one year. 

65. Nine shraddhas, sapindikarana and sixteen shraddhas should be done by the eldest son, even though the inheritors have divided property. 

66. Women's sapindya may be done with the paternal grandmother, or maternal grandmother or with husband, according to the tradition prevailing in different regions. 

67. Now, I shall tell you about the time of nine shraddhas O Kashyapa bird. The first Shraddha should be performed on the day of death near the corpse. 

68. The second on the same date on the way to cemetery where the mourners take rest; the third on the day at the place when or where they collect the bones. 

69. The rest of the shraddhas on the fifth, seventh, eighth ninth, tenth and eleventh day. These are nine shraddhas, O bird. 

70. The third one is called shodashi wherein the procedure is the same as in ekoddishta. 

71. The six shraddhas are performed on the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh day. 

72. These six are told but they may be nine by addition. I have stated six according to different traditions of the sages. 

73. I have preferred tradition but practice is not altogether ruled out. On each of the first and second days a sacred thread should be gifted. 

74. So, when the brahmanas are feasting, pinda should be offered to the preta. Then the host and the brahmana should indulge in question-answer dialogue. 

75. When the same is completed then such and such (N. of the preta) should become perennial" is to be uttered. The ekoddishta is perennial, please note. 

76. The sixteen shraddhas after sapindikarana should be ekoddishta except those performed on festival days. 

77. He who performs them annually should perform them in that manner. The preta eats twice in a day on the eleventh and the twelfth day. 

78. To each-husband and wife-a pinda should be offered. Once sapindya is completed, the pretahood ends. 

79. For one year, a lamp should be kept burning at the door of the house. Food, lamp, water, cloth, or whatever else is given, the same gives satisfaction to the preta. 

80. In brief, I have told you the period of sapindikarana as one year. 

81-82. Now, I shall tell you how people go to Yama's abode. On the thirteenth day, after shravana-karma, he is captured by Yama's attendents, just as you capture the serpents by neck, O Garuda. He is led in the way like the caught-up monkey. 

83. The body attains a form like air. Born out of pinda it assumes a shape different from the one born from the womb of the mother. 

84-89. According to age, state, etc it differs. Eighty-six thousand yojanas long is the distance between the mortal's and Yama's worlds. Two hundred and a half yojanas and forty-seven Kroshas he covers daily. So, in forty-eight and thirty days he reaches Yama's city, being dragged by Yama's servants. Thus, when the way is being covered by the sinner, what happens then, you hear, O Garuda. For thirteen days, he is tied with fierce nooses, by Yama's servants with goad in hand, with looks frowning and the hand engaged in striking with sticks. Thus, he is dragged towards the south. 

90. There, on the fierce way, full of thorny grass, thorns, anthills, sharp stones, which contains burning fires as well as hundreds of charms. 

91. Which is heated by a burning sun, is infested by dogs or flies, which echoes with the howling sounds of jackals, he is dragged by Yama's messengers. 

92. The sinner perishes when his body is burnt in Yama's abode. 

93. Thus as his body is eaten, torn asunder, pierced, he suffers immensely. 

94. On account of his own deeds, though he is dead. There are sixteen cities in this way. Now hear about them. 

95. Yamya, Sauripura, Nagendrabhavana, Gandharva, Shailagama, Krauncha, Krurapura, Vichitra-bhavana, Bahvapada, Duhkhada, Nanakrandapura, Sutaptabhavana, Raudra, Payovarshana, Shitadhya, and Bahubhiti - these are the sixteen cities not seen by you. 

96. Then he goes to Yamya saying, 'O son, O son' he cries painfully remembering his own misdeeds. 

97. He reaches that city on the eighteenth day, O Tarkhya. There is Pushpabhadra river and a good-looking tree. 

98. He wants to take rest there but Yama's servants do not bid him do so. 

99. Here, on the earth, whatever is given by his sons every month, rice-ball, etc. due to affection or kindness he eats the same and then he goes to Sauripura. As he goes he cries being beaten with clubs. 

100. "I did not construct a tank for satiating thirsty people, beasts and birds. I did not make a pasture for satisfying cattle. Now, O body, suffer for whatever you have done". 

101. King Jangama rules in that city who can assume any shape at will. Out of fear of that king's frowns he eats the rice-ball. 

102. Whatever is offered to him in the three fortnights together with the oblation of water, he eats and drinks. He is then struck with clubs. 

103. Neither daily gifts were given nor pastures made, nor the sacred books such as the Vedas and Dharma-shastras offered in charity nor Puranas heard. Now, O body, you suffer for your acts of omission. 

104. Having reached Nagendra nagar and having eaten the rice balls offered by the relatives in the second month, he moves further. 

105. As he goes onward he laments being struck with the sword. "A fool that I am, I have lost everything to others. 

106. I obtained manhood by virtue of accumulated merit" Then he reaches Gandhamadana in the third month. 

107. There he cats the rice-ball. Then he goes further. As he goes further he laments being beaten by Yama's emissary.

108. I neither gave gifts nor poured oblations into fire nor undertook penance in the caves of the Himalayas nor bathed into Ganga's water. Hence, O body, suffer for whatever you have done. 

109. He reaches Sailagama in the fourth month. There stones rain upon him continuously, O bird. 

110. Having eaten the fourth monthly oblation he moves. As he moves, he is struck again with the stones by the messengers. 

111. "I followed neither Jnanamarga¹ nor Yogamarga² nor Karma-marga³ nor Bhaktimarga⁴. Nor did I remain in the company of saints, O body, now suffer for whatever you have done".

1. Path of knowledge.

2. Path of meditation.

3. Path of action.

4. Path of devotion.

112. Then in the fifth month, he goes to Krurapura, O Kashyapa. Having eaten the rice-ball and drunk water by his relatives he goes to Krurapura. 

113. As he goes, he laments, being struck with spears. "O mother, O father, O brother, O sons, O my wives. 

114. I was not advised by you. I have reached this state." As he laments thus Yama's messengers say to him. 

115. "Where is the mother? Where the father? O fool, Where is the wife? Where the sons? Where the friends? O fool. Now suffer the results of your evil activities. All sinners go by this ancient path". 

116. As you know, the provisions are the only strength of the traveller. So, none without provision can venture to travel over this path. For the path is such where no selling and purchasing system exists. 

117. In less than six months he reaches Krauncha and having eaten the rice-ball and drunk water he rests there for a while and then leaves for Vichitra nagara. 

118. As he goes, he laments being struck off with spearheads by Yama's emissaries. 

119. “Where do I go, O my life, a dead man cannot revive again. Thus, lamenting he goes in the way, his body being captured by tortures". 

120. Vichitranagara is ruled by king Vichitra. Being satiated with the six-monthly rice-ball he moves further. 

121. As he goes, he laments being struck with the club. 

122. "Do my brother, son, parents or any one exists who may take out a sinner like me falling in the ocean of distress. 

123. As he goes, there in the way is Vaitarani¹ hundred yojanas long, full of pus and blood. 

1. A river in the way to Pitruloka.

124. There are seen boatmen, fishermen. They say, if he has gifted Vaitarani cow, he can get into the boat and cross the river. 

125. But if he has not gifted the cow, he is brushed aside by the boatmen. 

126. He is bit by the birds with sharp beaks, like crows, cranes, ants, etc., O bird, the gift of cow at the time of death serves for the relief of the deceased. 

127. The gift of cow destroys all sins and affords all facilities. The deceased goes to Bahvapada in the seventh month. 

128. After partaking the seventh-monthly offering made by the relatives he reaches Bahvapada, where he laments being struck with the iron club. 

129. Neither you offered gifts nor gave oblations nor performed penance nor undertook bath nor rendered a good act. So, O foolish creature, now suffer for whatever act you have done. 

130. In the eighth month, after eating the rice-ball and drunk water, he goes to Nanakrandapura, O Tarkhya. 

131-132. Being struck with pebbles there, he says: "Where are those sweet dishes offered with sweet tit-tat by my wife, and where this beating with the pestles." In the ninth month he eats his rice-ball in Nanakrandapura. 

133. Then he laments in many ways. In the tenth month he reaches Sutaptabhavana. 

134-135. Thus moving, he laments in the way being struck with ploughs. Where the massaging of my feet by my sons and where the dragging of my legs by the thunder like hands of messengers". He then eats the rice-ball given in the tenth month together with the offerings of water-oblation. 

136. At the end of the eleventh month he goes to Raudra-pura. As he goes to Raudrapura he laments being struck in the back. 

137. "Where the cotton-bed I used to roll in and where this rigid place where I am beaten by the messengers". 

138. There he eats the rice-ball etc. given by his relatives and then he goes to the city called Payo-Varshana. 

139. While going he laments, as he is struck at the head. “Where the servants who with soft hands used to massage oil in my head. 

140. Where my head being struck by Yama's servants". At the end of the year, he eats the annual shraddha offered by his relatives. 

141. Then at the end of the year he goes to Shrotriya. He weeps while his tongue is cut out with the knife. 

142. "Where that sweet feeling of rasa and where this cutting of my tongue with the knife." 

143. Having partaken of the annual shraddha there, he goes to Bahubhuti. He has assumed by this time a body composed of the essence of his merit accruing from the gift of rice-balls. 

144. The sinner abuses his own self. He also abuses his wife and thus laments in the way.

145. Then he reaches the city of Yama nearby. It is forty yojanas in measurement. 

146. There are fourteen door-keepers called Shravanas. They are pleased with the Shravana karma performed by his relatives or else they get angry. 

147-149. There very soon among Death, Time, etc he sees Yama with red eyes, looking fierce and dark like a heap of collyrium, with fierce jaws and frowning fiercely, chosen as their lord by many ugly, fierce-faced hundreds of diseases, possessing an iron-rod in his hand and also a noose. The creature goes either to good or to bad state as directed by him. 

150. A sinner goes to bad state, as I have told you before. 

151. Those who give umbrella, shoes and shelter see Yama as gentle-faced with car-rings and a shining crest. 

152. In the Shraddha of the eleventh or twelfth month many brahmanas should be feasted because then the deceased is very hungry. 

153. He who does not perform the needful while alive being instructed by sons, wife and others suffers afterwards. 

154. Thus I have told you how one goes to Yama's abode; what shall be done in his favour for one year by his relatives. Do you wish to ask anything more?