Chapter 187 - Greatness of Rākṣasaprāpya Śrāddha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-3. When the fourth day of the Yajña rite dawned, the sacrificial rite was duly started by the Ṛtviks with Somapāna, cutting of the animal etc.

The Prasthātṛ priest (i.e. Atri) took the Guda (anus) of the scrificial animal and placed it in an isolated place in the middle of the assembly, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, for the sake of Homa (later). While he was engrossed (in his work), a certain Brāhmaṇa came there.

4. The young man (Brāhmaṇa) who entered thus there was desirous of eating meat. On seeing the anus of the sacrificial animal he eagerly and enthusiastically began to eat it.

5. In the meantime, the Prasthātṛ came near him. On seeing him tasting (the meat) he cursed him:

6-8. “Fie upon you, O sinful one! The anus (meat) that was kept for the purpose of Homa has been defiled by your voracious greed. You have thus caused an obstacle in the Yajña.

It is not proper now for me to perform the Homa with what is left after being eaten. What has been done by you is an act of Rākṣasas. Ere long you shall be a Rākṣasa on my word.”

9-10. Instantly, at the very moment he was transformed into one with hairs standing upright, red eyes, spike-like ears, black teeth and terrible appearance. His face was hideous. The lips were found hanging down. He had only the skin, the bone and the sinews left with flesh and fat missing. His form was terrible.

11. He happened to be the sage named Viśvāvasu, the son of Pulastya. He had come there for tasting the meat sanctified through Mantras

12. He was the grandson of Parameṣṭhin Brahmā and a through master of topics in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.

The Brāhmaṇas all round trembled with fear on seeing him like a Rākṣasa with hideous features.

13. Some repeated the Sūtras expected to destroy Rākṣasas. Some of them sought refuge in Viṣṇu and others in Rudra.

14. With the minds agitated with fright, they prattled, “Save us, save us”, and sought refuge in Pitāmaha and others in Gāyatrī.

15. O Brāhmaṇas, on seeing himself turned into a Rākṣasa, he became highly distressed. He rushed to Pitāmaha with the eyes filled with tears.

16. After bowing down he spoke these words with palms joined in reverence:

17-19. “O Lord of Devas, I am a Brāhmaṇa and the son of Pulastya. Hence your grandson. O great Lord, I have been turned into a Rākṣasa today by the Prasthātṛ in his rage.

Due to covetousness of the tongue and being ignorant that it was reserved and kept aside for the sake of Homa, I tasted the meat from the anus of the sacrificial animal.

Hence take pity on my body and bless it with acquisition of human form. Let some means be employed so that (my) Rākṣasa-hood can be dispelled.”

20. On hearing his pleading, Pitāmaha took pity on him. he then spoke the following conciliatory words:

21. “My grandson is only a boy. He does not know what should be done and what should not be done. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa take away the Rākṣasa-hood of (this son).”

22-24. On hearing it, the sage said: “O Lord, an occasion for performing expiatory rite in this Makha of yours has been created by him by defiling the anus meat.

Hence this man, the creator of ān obstacle to the Yajña, has been cursed by me. I will not at all take away the Ṛākṣasa-hood from him. A lie has never been uttered by me even as a joke.”

Brahmā said:

25. I shall perform the expiatory rite for the due completion of this Yajña. I shall offer monetary gifts and cows as laid down and perform the Homa in accordance with the injunctions. Do take away his Rākṣasa-hood at my instance.

26. He said: “O Prapitāmaha, if fire becomes cool and the moon hot-rayed (like the sun), then the statement (curse) uttered by me shall become otherwise.”

27. On hearing his words and realizing his determination, Vidhi said to Viśvāvasu in the form of Rākṣasa:

28. “O dear one, stay in this form till I tell you again. Do as I tell you so that I can offer an excellent position to you.

29. There are other Rākṣasas resorting to the western region of this Camatkārapura. They have confined themselves to the limits of decorum.

30. The Rākṣasas in Laṅkā aspire for the excellent state (Mokṣa). They come to that spot and perform penance adopting good Vratas.

31-34. Accept the Lordship there and act in a way beneficial to the Nāgaras. There are many Rākṣasas, Kūṣmāṇḍas, Piśācakas and many other Rākṣasas of evil intention.

All these Bhūtas, Pretas, Piśācas, Kūṣmāṇḍas and others catch hold of all those who go there. But on seeing a Nāgara in front, they go away due to the fear thereof. Hence, Son, go there and be the Lord of all the Rākṣasas. This is the Kingdom given to you by me now.”

Rākṣasa said:

35. O Pitāmaha, tell me, what should be eaten by me there and what should be given to them after becoming the Lord of those Rākṣasas.

36. O Lord, this is in view of the fact that food should be given to the attendants by a king. Hence, O Lord of Devas, take pity on me and tell this.

37. Indeed this has been heard by me that a king who does not duly maintain with food the group of his attendants goes to the Raurava Naraka.

Brahmā said:

38. All that Śrāddha devoid of monetary gifts, gingelly seeds and Darbha grass has been given to you even if it has been performed at excellent Tīrthas.

39. If a pig, a woman in her monthly course, a dog or a donkey looks at a Śrāddha it shall be yours entirely.

40. If the Śrāddha is offered flouting the injunctions laid down, or if Darbha grass used is longer than a Vitasti (a span) or devoid of the root, it shall be entirely yours.

41. If gingelly seeds, pies etc., fried in oil or Śūka cereal (barley etc.) are not given in a Śrāddha, that shall be yours.

42. If the Śrāddha is performed by persons who have smeared themselves with oil, who have not bathed and who have not worn washed clothes, that shall be yours entirely.

43. If the Brāhmaṇa fed in a Śrāddha is a Māhiṣika (husband of an unchaste woman), a Śvitrī (one suffering from white leprosy) or a Kuṣṭhin (leper), that Śrāddha shall be entirely yours.

44. If the person fed in a Śrāddha is one deficient in one limb, one having a superficial limb, one who is censured, afflicted with a fell disease, a thief or one who practises usury, that Śrāddha shall be yours.

45. If the person fed is one with black teeth or a husband of a Śūdra woman, a Vinagna (excessively hypocritical one), that Śrāddha shall be yours.

46. You will get the benefit of that Yajña which is without monetary gifts, which is performed by those polluted by death of kinsmen and by those without celibacy.

47. If an Atithi is not duly honoured in a Śrāddha or Yajña rite on coming at the conclusion of Vaiśvadeva rite it shall be entirely yours.

48. If after inviting a Brāhmaṇa, the person offering Śrāddha does not observe silence, or if the Brāhmaṇa who takes food does not observe silence, that Śrāddha will be yours.

49. If a man performs Śrāddha in pots of clay or broken utensils, that shall be yours entirely

50. If salt is openly displayed, if the buttermilk gets spoiled or if Jātī flower is offered, that shall be yours entirely.

51. If the householder or the Brāhmaṇa does not observe celibacy in a Śrāddha (i.e. on the Śrāddha day) that is offered to you. One without three deserving persons (or three pots) is also offered to you.

52-53. If the food is offered in an iron utensil, that Śrāddha is offered to you by me. If a rite is devoid of Mantras and proper and requisite activities it is despicable. Except in the case of Saṅkrānti and lunar eclipse, whatever is offered at night is despicable. If a Homa is performed at night it is despicable.

54. After saying thus Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, stopped abruptly. That Rākṣasa duly obtained the position of Rākṣasas at that place.