Sacred Texts  Hinduism  Index  Previous  Next 

The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 (SBE29), by Hermann Oldenberg, [1886], at sacred-texts.com


p. 236

ADHYÂYA IV, KANDIKÂ 1.

1. If disease befalls one who has set up the (sacred Srauta) fires, he should leave his home (and go away) to the eastern, or northern, or north-eastern direction.

2. 'The sacred fires are fond of the village'—thus it is said.

3. Longing for it, desirous of returning to the village they might restore him to health-thus it is understood (in the Sruti).

4. Being restored to health, he should offer a Soma sacrifice, or an animal sacrifice, or an ordinary sacrifice, and take his dwelling (again in the village).

5. Or without such a sacrifice.

6. If he dies, one should have a piece of ground dug up to the south-east or to the south-west—

7. At a place which is inclined towards the south or towards the south-east.

8. According to some (teachers), inclined towards south-west.

9. (The piece of ground dug up should be) of the length of a man with upraised arms,

10. Of the breadth of one Vyâma (fathom),

p. 237

11. Of the depth of one Vitasti (span).

12 12. The cemetery should be free from all sides.

13. It should be fertile in herbs.

14 14. But plants with thorns and with milky juice, &c., as stated above.

15 15. From which the waters flow off to all sides: this is a characteristic required for the cemetery (smasâna) where the body is to be burned.

16 16. 'They cut off (from the dead body) the hair, the beard, the hairs of the body, and the nails'—this has been stated above.

17 17. (They should provide) plenty of sacrificial grass and of butter.

18 18. They here pour clarified butter into curds.

19. This is the 'sprinkled butter' used for the Fathers (i.e. Manes).


Footnotes

236:1 1, 1. Comp. Srauta-sûtra VI, 9, 1. The funeral rites according to the Grihya-sûtras have been treated of by Prof. Max Müller, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol. ix.

236:3 I.e. longing for the village. I here differ from Prof. Stenzler's translation, 'Indem sie, um nach dem Dorfe zu kommen, ihm Gutes wünschen.' Prof. Stenzler here follows Nârâyana, who has the following note, grâmam âgantum ikkhantognaya enam âhitâgnim âsamsante, ayam agado bhaved iti.

236:4 Comp. Srauta-sûtra VI, 9, 7.

236:5 Srauta-sûtra VI, 10, 1.

237:14 See above, II, 7, 5.

237:15 See the note on Sûtra 12.

237:16 See the Srauta-sûtra VI, 10, 2.

237:17 Dvigulpham barhir âgyañ ka. Nârâyana explains dvigulpha by prabhûta. Comp. bahulatrina, Kâtyâyana XXV, 7, 15.

237:18 'Here' means, at a ceremony directed to the Manes. Nârâyana.


Next: IV, 2