Chapter 20 - Seven classes of Pitṛs and the rites of propitiating them

Bṛhaspati said:

1. Thus, these Pitṛs^[1] are Devas; they are the deities of even the Devas. These Pitṛs who have no change or decay are always stationed in seven abodes.

2-3. They are the sons of Prajāpati. The first group of all these noble-souled ones, is conducive to the regular increase of the Yogic power of the Yogins. The second group is the set of Pitṛs for the Devas; the third group is that of the Dānavas and others. It should be known that the remaining ones belong to the members of the four castes. Thus all of them have been recounted.

4. The Devas worship these Pitṛs who abide by all kinds of knowledge. The four Āśramas (stages of life) worship them in the due order.

5. All the four castes worship them in accordance with the scriptures. Similarly, persons of the mixed castes as well as the Barbarians worship them.

6-7. The Pitṛs give delight to him who worships them with great devotion.

The Pitṛs and the Pitāmahas (grandfathers) give nourishment, progeny and heaven to the person who desires nourishment and progeny. The sacred rites of the Pitṛs excel the rites of the Devas.

8-9a. It is laid down in the Smṛti that the Pitṛs should be propitiated before the Devas. Indeed the subtle movement of the Yogic power of the Pitṛs is not comprehended by men even by means of well-reputed penance. What then by means of the Physical eye?

9b-11. To all, whether the Devas or the Pitṛs, the silver vessel or one coated with silver accompanied by silver is mentioned as excellent and sanctifying. The relatives give the Piṇḍas three in number, in that vessel mentioning their names and Gotras. The Piṇḍas are to be offered on the ground also by covering it with the Darbha grass in accordance with the injunctions. While placing them they are to be placed wearing the sacred thread on the right shoulder; kept anywhere the Piṇḍas please the Pitṛs.

12-13. The food offered to the Pitṛs becomes his own food.

Just as the lost calf obtains the mother at the cowpen so also the food offered to the Pitṛs reaches them. The Mantra takes it to the place where the Jantu stays. The utterance of names and the Gotras and the Mantras take the food offered to the Pitṛs.

14-16. Satisfaction follows them even if they were to take a hundred births.

It is thus that the power of Brahmā the Parameṣṭhin exists in the first creation of the Pitṛs who seek the everlasting state of the worlds.

Thus these Pitṛs, their worlds, daughters, grandsons and the sponsors of the sacrifice have been recounted by me, O sinless one. O son, the Pitṛs have been recounted to you in due order.

Śamyu said:

17. “The divine creation of the Pitṛs has been recounted by you, O dear father. Their worlds, their daughters and their grandsons have been heard.

18. The charitable gifts and their benefits have been glorified along with the purificatory rites. The state of its being of everlasting benefit^[2] has been cited. The Brāhmaṇas have been mentioned. From today onwards I shall perform these duly”.

Bṛhaspati said:

19-21. “Thus said the holy lord Aṅgiras to the sages. On being asked to clear their doubts he said to the sages in the assembly of men formerly in the extensive Satra (sacrifice) lasting a thousand years. In that Satra the Sadaspati (the Presiding Lord) was Brahmā the lord of Devas. Five thousand years have elapsed since then. In. this connection verses have been sung by the sages who expounded the Brahman.

22. Formerly, in the Sattra, Brahmā the great soul took the initiation. There itself excellent food was given to the Pitṛs who seek everlasting benefit of the worlds.”

Sūta said:

23. “On being asked formerly by his intelligent son, Bṛhaspati thus recounted the creation of the Pitṛs. It has been cited now by me.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Pitṛs were originally three generations of ancestors in the Vedic times. But later on in Purāṇic times Pitṛs were divided as heavenly viz. Vasus, Rudras and Ādityas and humans (laukika) viz. father, grand-father and greatgrandfather. In later Purāṇas the number of classes of Pitṛs increased to seven as here. Our text echoes the division of Pitṛs as given in Vā.P.73, Varāha P. 13, 16 ff, Pd.P. Sṛṣṭi 9.2-4.

[2]:

As a matter of fact the theory of Karman and re-incarnations (Punarjanma) weakens the basis of the performance of Śrāddha. Hence this belief is propagated in Purāṇas and other works on Dharma Śāstra.