Institutes of VIshnu 74-77

2221.

1. After having worshipped, on each Ash t akâ, the gods and performed, with vegetables, meat, and cakes respectively, a S râddha (according to the rules given in the last chapter), he must, on each Anvash t akâ, worship the gods and offer a burnt-oblation in the same way as on the Ash t akâ (i.e. reciting the same three Pañ k akas successively), and entertain Brâhma n as in the same way as (directed) before (in the preceding chapter), in honour of his mother, his paternal grandmother, and his paternal great-grandmother, honour them with presents, accompany them (as far as the limits of his estate), and dismiss them

2. Then he must dig (six) trenches.

3. On the border of these trenches, to the northeast of them, he must light fires and place balls of rice.

4. On the border of three of the trenches (he must place balls) for the men, and on the border of the other three (he must place balls) for the women.

5. He must fill the three trenches for the men with water mixed with food.

6. (He must fill) the three trenches for the women with milk mixed with food.

7. (And he must fill up) each triad of trenches singly with sour milk, meat, and milk.

8. After having filled (the trenches), he must mutter the Mantra, 'May this (food) be imperishable for ye men and for ye women.'

INSTITUTES OF VISHNU 75

2231.

1. He who makes a S râddha-offering while his father is alive, must offer it to those persons to whom his father offers (his S râddhas).

2. (If he offers a S râddha) while both his father and grandfather are alive, (he must offer it to those persons) to whom his grandfather (offers his S râddhas).

3. While his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather are alive, he must offer no S râddha at all.

4. He whose father is dead (but whose grandfather is alive), must first of all offer a ball of rice to his father, after that, two balls to the two ancestors coming before his grandfather (or to his great-grandfather and to his fourth ascendant).

5. He whose father and grandfather are dead (but whose great-grandfather is alive), must first offer two balls to those two, and then offer one ball to the grandfather of his grandfather.

6. He whose grandfather is dead (but whose father and great-grandfather are alive), must give one ball to his grandfather and two balls to the father and grandfather of his great-grandfather.

7. An intelligent man must offer S râddhas to his maternal grandfather, and to the father and grandfather of him, in the same way (as to his paternal ancestors), duly modifying the Mantras. But the S râddhas addressed to other relatives, (uncles, brothers, and the like, must be performed) without Mantras.

INSTITUTES OF VISHNU 76

2239.

1. The (twelve) days of new moon, the three Ash t akâs, the three Anvash t akâs, a Mâgha day (i.e. 'day on which the moon enters the lunar asterism Maghâ'), which falls on the thirteenth of the dark half of the month Praush th apada, and the two seasons when rice and barley grow ripe (or autumn and spring):

2. Thus have the regular times for a Srâddha been declared by the lord of creatures. He who fails to perform a S râddha on those days, goes to hell.