Chapter 223 - Kinds of Sons Eligible to Offer Śrāddha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: What type of son is eligible to perform Śrāddha vide HD IV. pp. 536-37. This Purāṇa gives a brief treatment about eligibility.

Bhartṛyajña said:

1-2. On Darśa (New-Moon) day Pārvaṇa Śrāddha should be performed through Brāhmaṇas (eligible to perform Śrāddha). No Śrāddha should be performed otherwise.

If a man performs a Śrāddha through Brāhmaṇas such as Jāraja (born of a paramour), Apaviddha (rejected or forsaken son) etc. that Śrāddha becomes ineffective. There is no doubt about it.

Ānarta said:

3. A great fear has caught hold of me, in view of what has been said here, viz. that a Śrāddha offered through Jārajātas and Apaviddhas becomes futile.

4. O highly intelligent one, Manu has mentioned twelve types of sons who always fulfill the needs of those who have no sons.

Kinds of sons

5. They (kinds of sons) are, O excellent one: Aurasa (a bosom-born legitimate son), Kṣetraja (born of one’s own wife from others), Krayakrīta (bought in a sale) Pālita (one who has been brought up), Pratipanna (accepted, adopted), Sahodha (son conceived even at the time of marriage) and Kānīna (son born of an unmarried girl).

6. Kuṇḍas and Golas are also mentioned as sons (born of adultery when husband is alive or after his death).

7. A disciple, one who is saved from death and Aśvattha tree at the outskirts of the forest: why have these not been mentioned when you say like this?

Bhartṛyajña said:

8. O highly-esteemed one, it is true that all these are legally recognised as sons. But that is only in the other Yugas. In Kali Age, they are not dispeller of sins.

9. For that purpose there is this consideration only to that extent in every Yuga in regard to the people equipped with inherent strength but not so in Kali where the people are deficient in intellect.

10. Only in Kali, is such type of dealing mentioned as causing downfall. Since the people are of insufficient strength, this procedure has been laid down.

11. In this matter listen to the result if one causes Saṅkara (mixture of castes) in sexual union. A son born to a Brāhmaṇa lady through adultery with a Brāhmaṇa becomes a Brāhmaṇa-slayer.

12. He is the basest of all base people and is remembered as Vāraḍa.

13. A son born of a Kṣatriya (to a Brāhmaṇa lady) is Sūta and that born of a Vaiśya is Māgadha, but one born of a Śūdra is said to be Antyaja. Therefore, these sons are rejected.

14. Among these (twelve), O king, seven are pointed out as good sons and the (latter) five cause destruction to the family and downfall to the ancestors.

15. They are: Aurasa, Pratipanna, Krīta, Pālita, Śiṣya, Dattajīva (one who was saved) and Aśvattha the seventh.

16. They save the ancestor from falling into the hell named Put. Hence they are remembered as excellent.

17. Kṣetraja, Sahoḍha, Kānīna, Kuṇḍa and Golaka: these five cause the downfall of the Pitṛs even if they had gone to heaven.

18. For this reason the Śrāddha offered by a Jārajāta is invalid.