Verse 3.266 [Relative Merits of the Offering-Materials]

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

हविर्यच्चिररात्राय यच्चानन्त्याय कल्पते ।
पितृभ्यो विधिवद् दत्तं तत् प्रवक्ष्याम्यशेषतः ॥ २६६ ॥

haviryaccirarātrāya yaccānantyāya kalpate |
pitṛbhyo vidhivad dattaṃ tat pravakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ || 266 ||

I shall now fully describe what offering-material, on being offered to the Pitṛs, according to role, serves for a long time, and for eternity.—(266)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘The term ‘chira-rātra’ means long time.

‘That which serves for eternity’ as well as that which brings about long-standing satisfaction;—both these I am going to describe.

This is said for the purpose of attracting the attention of the audience.

After ‘kalpate,’ the term ‘prete,’ ‘for the food,’ should be supplied.—(266)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 500);—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 540);—and in Gadādharapaddhati (Kāla, p. 536).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 3.266-267)

Vyāsa (Caturvargacintāmaṇi-Śrāddha, p. 543).—‘That Śrāddha at which sesamum is largely used, Manu has declared to be imperishable.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra (2.7.23-24).—‘The substances to he employed are sesamum, Māṣa, Vrīhi, barley, water, roots and fruits. If the food is oily, the satisfaction of the Pitṛs is intense and long-standing.’

Viṣṇu (Do., 1).—‘With sesamum, Vrīhi, barley, Māṣa, water, roots and fruits, Priyaṅgu, Nīvāra, Mudga, wheat—they remain satisfied for a month.’

Mahābhārata (13.88.3).—[Reproduces Manu.]

Yājñavalkya (1.258).—‘With sacrificial food, for one month, with milk-preparations for a year.’

Pracetas (Parāśaramādhava, p. 702).—‘Black Māṣa, sesamum, Yava, paddy-rice, Mahāyava, Vrīhi, Madhūlika—black, white and red,—these should be used at Śrāddha.’

Mārkaṇḍeya (Do.).—Yava, Vrīhi, wheat, sesamum, Mudga, rapeseed, Priyaṅgu, Kovidāra, and Niṣpāva are excellent.’

Atri (Do.).—‘A Śrāddha without wheat is as good as not performed.’

Vāyupurāṇa (Do., p. 703).—‘Bilva, Āmalaka, grapes, jackfruit, mango, pomegranate, Cavya, Pālevata, Akṣoṭa, dates, Kaśaru, Kovidāra, palm-root, lotus-root, Kāleya, Kālaśāka, Suvarcalā, Kaṭphala, Kiṅkiṇī, raisins, Lakuca, Moca, Kabandhū, Grīvaka, Tīndaka, Madhūka, Vaikaṅkata, cocoanut, Śṛṅgāṭaka, Parūṣaka, Pippalī, Marica, Paṭola, Bṛhatī, sweet-smelling fish, Kalāya, Nāgara and Dīrghamūlaka.’

Śaṅkha (Parāśaramādhava, p. 704).—‘Mango, Pālevata, sugarcane, grapes, Cavya, pomegranate, Vidāryā, Bhucuṇḍa, raisins with honey, Śaktu with sugar, Śṛṅgāṭaka, Kaśaruka.’

Ādityapurāṇa (Do.).—‘Madhūka, Rāmaṭha, Karpūra, Marica, Guḍa, Saindhava and Trapusa are commended at Śrāddha.’