96 - The story of Ruchi (continued). 

Perturbed by his forefathers’ admonition Ruch’i offered worship to Brahma and Brahma promised he should gain his desire with the Pitris’ help—Ruch’i poured forth therefore a long’ hymn and prayer to the Pitris. 

Markandeya spoke:

1 The brahman rishi Ruch’i, being greatly agitated in mind at that his forefathers’ counsel, wandered about the earth, desirous

2 to find a maiden. Failing to obtain a miaidea he, illuminated by the fire of his forefathers’ counsel, fell into deep

3 thought, while his mind was exceedingly agitated— “What can I do? Where am I going? How am I to take a wife? May that come to pass quickly, which will effect my fore

4 fathers’ advancement!” While the high-soiiled muni pondered thus, a thought occurred to him— “I will propitiate

5 lotus-born Brahma with austerities.” Thereupon he performed austerities to Brahma for a hundred celestial years, and for the purpose of propitiating him engaged then in the 

6 utmost self-mortification, Brahma the forefather of the worlds thereupon showed himself and said to him—” I am 

 7 well-pleased, declare thy earnest -wish.” Se fell prostrate then before Brahma, who is the origin of the World, and declared what he wished earnestly to do according to the counsel of his forefathers. And Brahma hearing his earnest wish spoke to the brahman Rachi. 

Brahma spoke:

8 Thou shalt be a Praja-pati; thou shalt create human folk. After creating human folk, O brahman, and begetting sons

9 and performing ceremonies, thou shalt then, after thy dominion shall be taken away, attain perfect felicity. Being such,

10 do thou take a wife as enjoined by thy forefathers; and after reflecting on this desire, perform worship to the Pitris those Pitris indeed being gratified shall bestow on thee the wife and sons desired. When satisfied what may thy ancestors not bestow? 

Markaneya spoke:

11 The rishi* on hearing this speech from Brabma, whose birth is inscrutable, performed worship to the Pitris on

* For risher- read rishir?

12 a distant sand-bank in a river, and also gratified the Pitris, O brahman, with these praises, respectfully, with single mind, subduing his body, and bending his neck in faith. 

Ruch’i spoke:

13 I pay reverence unto the Pitris who dwelt as presiding deities in the shraddha; and whom even the gods verily delight with invocations concluding with the word svadha at the 

14 shraddha. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom maharshis, who desire to obtain enjoyment and final emancipation from existence, delight with mental shraddhas and with faith in 

15 Svarga. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, Whom the Shiddhas idelight with all kinds of incomparable heavenly offerings at the

16 shraddhas in Svarga. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom the Guhyakas also, who earnestly desire botindless sublime prosPerity because ttey are absorbed therein,* honour with faith.

* Tan-maya-tvena; referring to wealth, because they are the attendants of Kuvera the god of wealth, and guardians of his treasures? 

17 I pay reverence unto the Pitris, who are always honoured by mortals on the earth, and who grant unto men to attain nnto

18 the desired worlds by means of faith at the shraddhas. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, who are always honoured by brahmans on the earth, and who grant generative power for

19 the obtaining of what they earnestly desire and long for. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom indeed forest-dwelling ascetics, who are restrained in their diet and whose stains have been washed away by austerities, delight with shraddhas performed

20 in the forests. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom brahmans, who practise the vow af perpetual celibate studentship and who have subdued their souls, delight with intense

21 meditation continually. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom as being bestowers of benefits in the three worlds princes delight with shraddhas and all kinds of food-oblations according

22 to precept. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom vaishyas, who take pleasure in their own occupations, honour with flowers, incense, food and water continually on the earth.

23 I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom as famed by the name Sukalin† shudras also in faith always delight with Shraddhas in

† A class of Pitris regarded as the especial Pitris of Shudras.

24 this world. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom as feeding on the svadha great Asuras, who have forsaken deceit and

25 arrogance, always delight with shraddhas in Patala. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom Nagas, who wish to obtain their desires, honour with shraddhas and all kinds of enjoyments

26 according to precept in Rasatala. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, whom the Serpents,†† who possess spells, enjoyments and good fortune, always delight there indeed

††Sarpaih.

27 with shraddhas according to precept. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, who dwell visibly both in the world of the gods and in the atmosphere, and who are worthy of worship by gods and other beings on the face of the earth. May they 

28 receive my offering. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, who have become united with the Supreme Soul, tvho yet in bodily form dwell verily in a heavenly car, and to whom as effecting deliverance from affliction the noblest yogins offer sacrifice

29 with minds cleansed from defilement. I pay reverence unto the Pitris, who also in bodily form in heaven feed on the svadha for the purpose of bestowing desirable benefits, and who are powerful to bestow all desired objects and who grant

30 deliverance to those who have no engrossing interests. May all the Pitris be delighted herein, who signify desires to those who wish for them, namely, godhead, Indra’s status, or what is more than this, and also sons, cattle, might and houses of

31 their very own! May the Pitris, who always dwell in the moon’s rays, in the sun’s orb and in a white heavenly car, be delighted herein with food and water, with perfumes and

32 other odours; may they obtain nourishment herefrom! And may the Pitris, who have satisfaction from the clarified butter in the oblation to Agni, who dwelling in the bodies of brahmans feed on the same, and who reach intense delight by the offering of the pinda, be satisfied herein with food and water!

33 May they, who have been greatly pleased by the chief maharshis with rhinoceros-flesh and with dark sesamum seeds, which attract the minds of celestial beings and are much desired by the gods, and with the herb Ocimum sanctum,

34 reach intense delight herein! And may all poems which are exceedingly coveted be for them, who are honoured by the Immortals! May they then be present here at the flowers,

35 perfumes, food and enjoyments which I have procured! May they, my forefathers,* who receive honour day by day, who should be worshipped on earth at the end of the month and on the eighth day, and who should be worshipped at the end of the year and at its beginning.† obtain satisfaction

* Or, “The Pitris.” 

† Abhyudaye; or “the rising of the sun”? 

36 herein! May theyt who as being luminous as the full moon†† are worthy of worship from brahmans, and who as having the hue of the rising; sun are worthy of worship from kshattriyas, and who as bestowers of gold are worthy of worship from vaishyas, and who as resemhling the indigo plant* 

†† Kumudendu-bhaso.

* Nili-nibhah. This is obscure. 

37 are worthy vf worship from Shudra folk, may they all reach delight with my offering of flowers, perfumes, incense, food, water and other gifts and with the fire-oblation also! Before 

38 them, the Pitris, I am ever prostrate. May they, who eat of the food-oblations, those splendid sacrifices, which have been previously offered to the gods for the sate of exceeding delight, and who when delighted become creators of welfare for us, be delighted herein! I am prostrate before them. 

39 May they, who expel†Rakshasas, goblins and fierce Asuras, yea, what is unpropitious to people, and who are the most ancient of gods, and who are worthy of worship by the lord of the Immortals, be delighted herein! I am prostrate before 

† Nir-nashayantas. As a verb this is not given in tlie dictionary.

40 them. May the Agni-shvatta†† Pitris, the Barhi-shad§ Pitris, the Ajya-pa|| Pitris and the Soma-pa¶ Pitris attain delight

†† The spirits of those who on earth neglected the sacrificial fire. See Manu III. 195 and 199. 

§ See Mann III. 196 and 199. 

|| Those who were the sons of Pulastya and the ancestors of the vaishya order. See Mann III. 198. 

¶ Those especially who were the progenitors of the brahmans. See Manu III. 197 and 198.

41 in this shraddha! I have delighted the Pitris. May the bands of Agni-shvatta Pitris protect the eastern region for me! And may the Pitris who are known as Barhi-shads protect

42 the southern region! May the Ajya-pa Pitris likewise protect the western region, and the Soma-pa Pitris the northern region from Rakshasas, goblins and Pishachas, and indeed from

43 harm inflicted by Asuras! And may their ruler Tama safe-guard me everywhere! The Vishva, Vishva-bhuj, Aradhya,

44 Dharma, Dhanya, Sh’ubhanana, Bhuti-da, Bhuti-krit and Bhuti are nine classes which exist among the Pitris. The Kalyana,

45 Kalyata-kartri, Kalya, Kalyatarashraya, Kalyata-hetu and Anagha—these six, they are known as classes of Pitris also. 

46 The Vara, Varenya, Vara-da, Pashti-da and Tushti-da, Vishvapatri and Dhatri—these seven indeed are also classes. The

47 Mahat, Mahatman, Mahita, Mahima-vat and Maha-bala—these five Moreover, are classes of Pitris, being destroyers of sin. Sukha-da, and Dhana-da also, Dharma-da and Bhuti-da*

* This word occurs twice, in verses 44 and 47. The Bombay edition reads the same. It seems to follow the Calcutta edition rather closely after the Devi-mahatmya. 

48 besides —such also is likewise called a four-fold class of Pitris. There are thus thirty-one classes of Pitris, who pervade the entire world. Delighted with me, may they be satisfied and ever grant me what is beneficial.