Chapter 81

Vishnu Smriti 81

He shall not place food on a seat. // Vi_81.1 //

He shall not touch it with his foot. // Vi_81.2 //

He shall not sneeze upon it. // Vi_81.3 //

He shall dismiss the demons with sesame seeds or mustard seeds. // Vi_81.4 //

And he shall perform the śrāddha (श्राद्ध) in a secluded place. // Vi_81.5 //

He shall not look at a menstruating woman. // Vi_81.6 //

Nor a dog. // Vi_81.7 //

Nor a village pig. // Vi_81.8 //

Nor a village chicken. // Vi_81.9 //

He shall with effort show the śrāddha (श्राद्ध) to a goat. // Vi_81.10 //

And the Brāhmaṇas shall eat with restrained speech. // Vi_81.11 //

Not with their heads covered. // Vi_81.12 //

Not with their shoes on. // Vi_81.13 //

Not with their feet placed on a stool. // Vi_81.14 //

Those with deficient or superfluous limbs shall not see the śrāddha (श्राद्ध). // Vi_81.15 //

Nor Śūdras. // Vi_81.16 //

Nor fallen persons. // Vi_81.17 //

Nor those with great diseases. // Vi_81.18 //

At that time, he shall honor a Brāhmaṇa or, with the permission of the Brāhmaṇas, a mendicant. // Vi_81.19 //

The Brāhmaṇas shall not speak of the qualities of the oblation, even when asked by the giver. // Vi_81.20 //

As long as the food remains warm, as long as they eat with restrained speech, / So long do the ancestors eat, as long as the qualities of the oblation are not spoken. || Vi_81.21 ||

Having gathered food of all kinds and sprinkled it with water, / He shall scatter it on the ground before those who have eaten. || Vi_81.22 ||

For those who died without the proper rites and for women of the family who have been abandoned, / The leftovers are their share, and the scattered offering on the darbha (दर्भ) grass. || Vi_81.23 ||

The leftovers on the ground are declared to be the share in the ancestral rite / For the servant class who are straightforward and not deceitful. || Vi_81.24 ||