DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0295
Death, Funeral Rites, and Ancestor-worship. 283
X. 14. 7, 8, 10,11; 16. 1-4; 17. 3-6 ; 18. 11; 154. 1-5) were
repeated.
The following are free translations of some of the verses:—
Soul of the dead! depart; take thou the path—
The ancient path—by which our ancestors
Have gone before thee; thou shalt look upon
The two kings, mighty Varuna and Yama,
Delighting in oblations ; thou shalt meet
The Fathers and receive the recompense
Of all thy stored-up offerings above.
Leave thou thy sin and imperfection here;
Return unto thy home once more; assume
A glorious form. By an auspicious path
Hasten to pass the four-eyed brindled dogs—
The two road-guarding sons of Sarama;
Advance to meet the Fathers who, with hearts
Kindly disposed towards thee, dwell in bliss
With Yama; and do thou, O mighty god,
Intrust him to thy guards1 to bring him to thee,
And grant him health and happiness eternal.
(X. 14.7-11-)
When a dead body was thus burnt the spirit—invested
with its incombustible subtle frame—was supposed to rise
along with the smoke to heaven.
Then the performer of the ceremony repeated the verse
(Rig-veda X. 18.3):—
We living men, survivors, now return
And leave the dead ; may our oblations please
The gods and bring us blessings! now we go
To dance and jest and hope for longer life.
After this they proceeded homewards, the younger walking
in front, the elder behind. But before re-entering the house
they purified themselves by chewing leaves of the Nimba-
tree2, and by touching fire, grains of barley, oil, and water.
During one night they cooked no food, and for three nights
ate nothing containing salt.
After the tenth day the bones and ashes of the deceased
1 These are the two four-eyed watch-dogs mentioned at p. 289.
2 This, however, is not mentioned in the Asvalayana Sutras.
X. 14. 7, 8, 10,11; 16. 1-4; 17. 3-6 ; 18. 11; 154. 1-5) were
repeated.
The following are free translations of some of the verses:—
Soul of the dead! depart; take thou the path—
The ancient path—by which our ancestors
Have gone before thee; thou shalt look upon
The two kings, mighty Varuna and Yama,
Delighting in oblations ; thou shalt meet
The Fathers and receive the recompense
Of all thy stored-up offerings above.
Leave thou thy sin and imperfection here;
Return unto thy home once more; assume
A glorious form. By an auspicious path
Hasten to pass the four-eyed brindled dogs—
The two road-guarding sons of Sarama;
Advance to meet the Fathers who, with hearts
Kindly disposed towards thee, dwell in bliss
With Yama; and do thou, O mighty god,
Intrust him to thy guards1 to bring him to thee,
And grant him health and happiness eternal.
(X. 14.7-11-)
When a dead body was thus burnt the spirit—invested
with its incombustible subtle frame—was supposed to rise
along with the smoke to heaven.
Then the performer of the ceremony repeated the verse
(Rig-veda X. 18.3):—
We living men, survivors, now return
And leave the dead ; may our oblations please
The gods and bring us blessings! now we go
To dance and jest and hope for longer life.
After this they proceeded homewards, the younger walking
in front, the elder behind. But before re-entering the house
they purified themselves by chewing leaves of the Nimba-
tree2, and by touching fire, grains of barley, oil, and water.
During one night they cooked no food, and for three nights
ate nothing containing salt.
After the tenth day the bones and ashes of the deceased
1 These are the two four-eyed watch-dogs mentioned at p. 289.
2 This, however, is not mentioned in the Asvalayana Sutras.