CHAPTER – 97
MARKANDEYA said: – While he was thus chanting the glories (of the manes) a bundle of effulgence came within his perception and was spread all over the sky. (1) Beholding that great stationary effulgence enveloping the universe, Ruchi, kneeling down, chanted the following hymn. (2)
Ruchi said: – I bow always unto the manes who are worshipped of all, who have no forms, who have burning effulgence, who are always engaged in meditation and who have celestial vision. (3) I salute them, who are the leaders of Indra and others, as well as of Daksha, Marichi and the seven Rishis and who bestow all desired for objects. (4) I always bow unto those manes who are the leaders of Manu and other principal saints as well as those of the sun, moon, and the ocean. (5) I salute them with folded palms who guide the stars, planets, the air, the fire, sky, heaven and earth. (6) I always salute them with folded hands who are the progenitors of the celestial saints, who are saluted by all the world, who always bestow everlasting fruits. (7) I bow unto Prajapati, Kashyapa, Soma, Varuna, and the other Yogins. (8) Salutation unto the seven Ganas who live in the seven regions; I bow unto the Self-sprung Brahma, who has yoga for his eyes. (9) I bow unto the manes of whom Soma is the stay and who have yoga for their forms and unto Soma (himself) who is the father of the world. (10) I bow unto those other ancestral manes who have the fire for their forms and from whom this endless universe, full of Agnishtoma, has emanated. (11) With a controlled mind I bow again and again unto all those ancestral manes, effulgence is whose support, fire and the sun are whose forms, the universe and Brahman are whose real nature and who always carry on yoga. May they, who feed on Swadha, be propitiated with me. (12-13)
Markandeya said: – O foremost of Munis, having been thus eulogised the manes, lighting the ten quarters with their effulgence, came out. (14) He beheld them before him, adorned with flowers, perfumeries and pastes, that he had dedicated unto them. (15) Then again bending low with reverence he again honored them severally exclaiming “I bow unto you! I bow unto you!”. (16) Thereupon the ancestral manes, delighted, said to that foremost of ascetics: “Pray for a boon.” He too hanging his head said: -(17) “O lord, I have been commanded by Brahma to engender progeny; therefore I wish to take a wife who may be of a heavenly and glorious life and may give birth to children. (18)
The ancestral Manes said: – Immediately at this very moment there shall spring up a charming wife for thee, thou shalt beget on her a son, who shall be a Manu. (19) O Ruchi, that intelligent lord of a Manwantara shall be designated by thy name and he will acquire reputation all over the three worlds under the appellation of Rouchya. (20) He will be the father of many highly powerful and high-souled sons who will be all the protectors of the world. (21) Thou, too, conversant with virtue as thou art, and a patriarch having created four classes of progeny, shalt, on the expiration of thy regime, attain to Siddhi. (22) We will be pleased with that man who will reverentially chant our glories with this hymn and shall confer upon him various objects of enjoyments, the most excellent knowledge of self, good health, children and grand children. Therefore those, who will seek these, must eulogise us with the hymn first instituted by thee. (22-24) Whoever, that shall on the occasion of a Sraddha, chant this hymn, so pleasing to us, with reverence before the leading Brahmanas while taking their meals, when we, delighted with hearing this hymn, shall approach there, shall have Sraddha done without any obstacle. There is no doubt in this. (25-26) If that Sraddha be without any Shrotrya, if it be sullied in any way, either with the spending of ill-gotten wealth or otherwise, when carried on by unfair means, or at a bad time, bad place or in an irregular process or if that Sraddha be instituted with haughtiness or irreverence still if this hymn be sung that shall
conduce to our gratification. (27-29) If this hymn, conducing to our satisfaction, be chanted at a Sraddha we shall obtain gratification extending over twelve years. (30) If it is chanted in Hemanta (season of dews) it shall give us gratification for twelve years, if in winter this excellent hymn shall give us satisfaction for twice the period. (31) If it is chanted on the occasion of a Sraddha in spring it shall give us gratification for sixteen years and when performed in summer it shall also afford us gratification for sixteen years. (32) O Ruchi, if a Sraddha be performed imperfectly during rains, this hymn, if chanted then, shall afford us everlasting gratification. (33) If it is chanted on the occasion of a Sraddha during autumn it confers upon us gratification extending over fifteen years. (34) In a house where this is daily kept written if a Sraddha is performed it at once draws us near. (35) Therefore when the Brahmanas are engaged in taking their meals at a Sraddha, you should, O great one, make them listen to it, and we shall then be satisfied. (36) By listening to his hymn, or reciting it in mind one reaps the same fruit as is reaped by the performance of a Sraddha at Gya, Pushkara, Kurukshetra or Naimisha. Having conferred this boon on Ruchi the ancestral manes attained to Siddhi. (37)