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2171.
1. One desirous of celebrating a S râddha must invite the Brâhma n as on the day before (it is to take place).
2. On the next day, in the forenoon, if it falls in the bright half of the month, and in the afternoon, if it falls in the dark half of the month, the Brâhma n as, who must have duly bathed and duly sipped water, must be placed by him, in the order of their seniority' (or) of their sacred knowledge, upon seats covered with Ku s a grass.
3. (He must entertain) two (Brâhma n as) facing the east at the S râddha of the gods (Vi s vedevâs), and three facing the north at the S râddha of the manes;
4. Or one only at each S râddha.
5. After having (worshipped the Vi s vedevâs and) offered a burnt-oblation: during the recitation of the first Pañ k aka (pentad) at a S râddha repast consisting of undressed grain or performed for the gratification of a special desire;
6. At a S râddha repast consisting of meat, during the recitation of the second Pañ k aka;
7. At a new moon (S râddha), during the recitation of the last Pañ k aka;
8. On the Ash t akâs (or eighth days) of the (three) dark halves subsequent to the full moon day of the month Âgrahâya n a (or Mârga s îrsha), during the recitation of the first, second, and last Pañ k akas respectively;
9. Likewise on the Anvash t akâs (or ninth days of the dark halves of those months);
10. He must invite the manes, after having received permission to do so from the Brâhma n as.
11. Having driven away the Yâtudhânas by strewing grains of sesamum and by reciting the two Mantras (the first of which begins with the words), 'May the Asuras go away;'
12. He must invite the manes (with the four Mantras), 'Come near, O ye manes,' '(Conduct) them all (here), O Agni,' 'May my (ancestors) come near,' 'This is your (share), O ye manes.' Then let him prepare the water for washing the feet with scented water, which has been mixed up with Kusa grass and sesamum, while reciting (the three Mantras), 'Those standing,' 'Speech is imperishable,' and 'What my mother (has sinned),' and offer it (to the Brâhma n as); let him prepare the Arghya (or water mixed with Dûrvâ grass, flowers, etc.) and offer it to them; let him offer to the Brâhma n as, to the best of his power, Ku s a grass, sesamum, clothes, flowers, ornaments, incense, and lamps; let him take food sprinkled with clarified butter; let him look them in the face with the Mantra, 'O ye Âdityas, Rudras, and Vasus;' let him say, 'I will offer an oblation in the fire,' and if the Brâhma n as say, 'Offer an oblation,' let him offer three burnt-oblations.'
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13. After having consecrated the offerings with the Mantras, 'They, who are my ancestors,' 'This is your (share), O ye manes,' and 'This offering,' he must pour (what is left of) the food into such vessels as happen to be there, or (into golden ones at the offering addressed to the Vi s vedevâs and) into silver ones (at the offering addressed to the manes), and offer it first to the two Brâhma n as facing the east (who have been invited to the S râddha of the gods).
14. Afterwards he must offer it to the (three) Brâhma n as facing north (who represent his three ancestors, addressing himself) to his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, (and calling out) their name and race.
15. While the Brâhma n as are eating the food, let him mutter (the three Mantras), 'Whatever (trickles down) through my fault,' 'With days and nights,' and 'Whatever (limb) of yours, Agni.'
16. And (let him mutter) the Itihâsa (Epics), Purâ n a (Legends), and the Dharma s âstra (Institutes of the Sacred Law).
The Insitutes of Vishnu CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO
Divisions 2196-2220
