Performing of Sraddha of his father by Janamejaya etc.

Janamejaya asked: “O best of the Brahmanas, why is Surya - the son of Aditi called Sraddha deva or the god of Sraddhas and what is the best form of Sraddha? I would like to listen to the same.

How were the pitrs (manes) created? Who are they? We had heard this from the mouth of the Brahmanas, that the manes who are lodged in the heaven, are treated as the gods of gods. This is also claimed by the people well versed in the Vedas. Therefore I intend to be well enlightened on the subject.

Those who have been termed as their ganas, what is their strength and how does the offering made in the Sraddha satisfiy them, that the manes getting pleased shower welfare on the human beings. I would like to know about them and also about the heaven of the manes.

Vaishampayana said: Very well, I shall now narrate to you about the excellent heaven of the manes, besides the way, the offering made by us in the Sraddhas reach the manes and satisfies them and how the manes getting pleased with our offerings, in Sraddhas bestow welfare on us. I shall enlighten you on the subject. In earlier times, when so questioned by Bhisma — the Grand sire, the sage Markandeya spoke on the subject. Then during the period of epic of the Mahabharata Yudhisthira the great Pandava had asked the same question to Bhisma who was lying over the bed of arrows. The reply Bhisma furnished to Yudhisthira is going to be repeated by me. In earlier times Samtkumara had spoken on the subject, when so questioned by Markandeya, the same has been repeated in the conversation between Yudhisthira and Bhisma.

Yudhisthira said: “ О religious minded one, how can a person desirous of uplift, achieve the same. What are the deeds, by performing which a person should not grieve? I would like to listen to the same.

Bhisma said: “A person, who pleases the manes performing the Sraddha, such a person, who remains engaged in the performing of Sraddha enjoys all the pleasures in the world and after his death, he enjoys all the comforts in the heaven.

О Yudhisthira, the manes, bestow dharma to those who are desirous of dharma, progeny to those desirous of progeny and upliftement to those who are desirous of upliftment.

Yudhisthira said: “ The manes of some people live in the heaven, while those of others dwell in the hell, because it is well known that the people achieve the heaven or the hell according to their own deeds.

The people desirous of the reward, perform Sraddhas for their fathers, grand­fathers and the great grand fathers. How can the Sraddhas performed in three pindas, reach all the manes.

When they themselves are lodged in the hell, then how can they bestow grace on us? or otherwise in case those manes are separate from them, then who are they? What is their acquintance, who are the manes to be adsored by us?

We have heard that even the gods dwelling in the heaven adore the manes. I would like to know about all the points in detail.

How does the Sraddha performed for the sake of the manes, redeems the people? You kindly enlighten me on the subject because you possess vast knowldge on the subject.

Bhisma said: О destoyer of the enemies, whatever has been heard by me, I am going to repeat the same. The manes apart from father, grand father and great grand father, my deceased father had narrated a story in this connection.

When I was about to offer the pinda to my late father, then his hand emerged tearing through the earth and he desired to receive the pinda in that hand.

His hand was adorned with the armlets and other ornaments, having the red fingers. It resembled the hand of my father, which had been seen by me already. It came to my mind at that time that I had not found this process in any kalpasiitra.

At that point of time, I without caring for the hand placed the pihda over the Kusa grass.

О sinless Bharatasrestha, at that point of time, my father having been pleased with me was extremely and he addressed me in sweet voice.

О son, you are religious minded as well as a learned one. I have got the reward of having a son like you. I feel successful in this world as well as the one beyond it.

О Bhisma, the performer of celebacy with a firm mind, О Bhisma, I had put to test to judge your devotion to dharma.

As a person who protests dharma achieves one fourth of its reward, similarly the one does not save the dharma is a fool achieves one fourth of the reward of the sin.

In the performing of his royal duties, what ever is testified by a king as authentic, the people follow the same, citing it as an example.

О best of the race of Bharata, you have accepted to ancient dharma as authintic therefore, I am extremely pleased with you.

Because of this pleasure, I would like to bestow a boon on you. Therefore you receive the boon, which is beyond the reach of anyone in the present past and future.

Till such time, you remain alive, the death would never over power you. The death will overpower you with your permission only.

О best of Bharata, whatever more is there in your mind, you better speak out, what more excellent boon should be bestowed on you, you please speak out.”

At these words of my father, I bowed in reverance to him with folded hands and said, “O best of the humans, I feel beholden with your pleasure.

Bhisma, you tell me, what do you want to ask from me, О Bharta, I shall surely remove your doubt, whatever you ask from me.

Then I asked my father, who stood there in an invisible form was appoached by me and I asked him in anxiety.

Bhisma said - О father, it is heard that the manes are the gods of gods. Are the gods and the manes the same or do they have separate entities. Who of these two should be worshipped by us?

How does the offerings of Sraddha made in favour of the manes, satisfy them in another loka? What is the reward for performing of the Sraddhal

Who is worshipped by the gods, Danavas, Humans, Yaksas, Nagas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Mahasarpas?

О excellent one, in case I am still entitled to some more of your grace, then I would like to listen to reply to question of mine.”

О well versed in dharma, I am quite anxious to know about it and have some doubt in my mind. You kindly enlighten me on the subject, because I feel that you are all knowlegeable.” Listining to the words of Bhisma, then Santanu - the father said.

Santanu said: О Bharata, I am speaking briefly on whatever has been enquired by your including the way the manes have come into being and what is the rewarded for offering food to them, you listen to the cause of the Sraddhas attentively. О excellent one, the manes in the heaven are the sons of Brahma.

The gods, asuras, humans, yaksas, Nagas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Mahasarpas and others adore the manes.

As per the command of Brahma, that with perfoming of the SrMdha, it is not the manes who are pleased, but the gods, Gandharvas besides the entire universe is pleased with the same.

О excellent one, you shedding away lethargy, serve the manes with the performing of the Sraddhas, who will bestow all welfare on you, because they fulfil all the desires.

О Bharata, in case you adore them (the manes) uttering your name and gotra, then the manes satisfy us as well as our manes in the heaven.

The rest of the details will be brought out before you by the sage Markandeya. He devoted to manes and is self enlightened one.

He has arrieved here in the §raddha today, simply to bestow his grace on me. Therefore you ask your questions to the immensely fortunate sage Markandeya.” Thus speaking Santanu disappeared from the scene.

Here ends Chapter -16, of Harivansa Parva of the khilabhaga of the epic of Mahabharata known as Harivansa Purana, relating to the performing of Sraddha.QJrs. 1-46, P.T.= 864)

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