Verse 3.277

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

युक्षु कुर्वन् दिनर्क्षेषु सर्वान् कामान् समश्नुते ।
अयुक्षु तु पितॄन् सर्वान् प्रजां प्राप्नोति पुष्कलाम् ॥ २७७ ॥

yukṣu kurvan dinarkṣeṣu sarvān kāmān samaśnute |
ayukṣu tu pitṝn sarvān prajāṃ prāpnoti puṣkalām || 277 ||

Performing (the śrāddha) on the even dates and under the even asterisms, one obtains all desires; and honouring the Pitṛs on the odd ones, he obtains prosperous offspring.—(277)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Even dates’—the second, the fourth, and so forth.

‘Asterism’—lunar mansion; ‘Bharaṇī,’ and the rest are called ‘even asterisms.’

The first, the third, the fifth, the seventh and the ninth days of the month are called ‘odd;’ and the second, the fourth, the sixth, the eighth and the tenth are called ‘even.’ Similarly, the eleventh day is ‘odd,’ and so on with the asterisms also.

‘All desires,’—the desires being described in detail in Itihāsas and Purāṇas.

‘Prosperous offspring,’—that which is replete with persons possessed of wealth, learning and strength, is called ‘prosperous.’— (277)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Hemādri (Kāla, p. 512), which explains ‘yukṣu’ and ‘ayukṣu’ as ‘even’ and ‘odd’, res pectively;—and in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 266).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (2.16.8-22).—‘If one performs the Śrāddha on the first day, he obtains children most of whom are female; if on the second day, he obtains children who become thieves; if on the third day, he obtains children endowed with Brāhmic glory; if on the fourth day, he obtains cattle of poor quality; if on the fifth day, he obtains male children, many in number and he does not die childless; if on the sixth day, his son becomes expert in travelling and in gambling; if on the seventh, his agriculture prospers; if on the eighth, he obtains sound health; if on the ninth, he obtains one-hoofed cattle; if on the tenth, his business prospers; if on the eleventh, he obtains articles of iron and lead; if on ṭhe twelfth, he obtains much cattle; if on the thirteenth, he obtains many sons, many friends, beautiful children; if on the fourteenth, he prospers in weapons; if on the fifteenth, he obtains prosperty.’

Viṣṇu (78.36-49).—‘On the first he obtains house and beautiful wives; on the second, a girl bestowing benefits; on the third, all desirable things; on the fourth, cattle; on the fifth, beautiful sons; on the sixth, success in gambling; on the seventh, success in agriculture; on the eighth, trade; on the ninth, cattle; on the tenth, horses; on the eleventh, sons endowed with Brāhmic glory; on ṭhe twelfth gold and silver; on the thirteenth, good luck; on the fifteenth, all desirable things.’

Yājñavalkya (1.262-267).—‘Daughters, sons-in-law, cattle, good sons, gambling, agriculture, trade, cleft-hoofed cattle, one-hoofed cattle, sons with Brāhmic glory, gold and silver and other metals, gratified relatives, all desires;—these are obtained by the man who offers Śrāddha from the first day onwards, excepting the fourteenth; also heaven, offspring, glory, bravery, lands, strength, son, honour, good luck, prosperity, supremacy, sovereignty, trade, freedom from disease, fame, freedom from sorrow, the supreme state, wealth, Vedas, successful medication, metal-wealth, cows, goats and sheep, horses, longevity—all this is obtained by one who offers the Śrāddha in accordance with law.’

Gautama (15.4).—‘Or, one may perform the Śrāddha whenever he gets suitable substances, place and Brāhmaṇas.’