Viṣṇu Purāṇa | Full Text

Chapter XIII Of Śrāddhas, or rites in honour of ancestors, to be performed on occasions of rejoicing. Funeral ceremonies. Of the Ekoddiṣṭa or monthly Śrāddha, and the Sapiṇḍana or annual one. By whom to be performed. AURVA continued: "The bathing of a father without disrobing is enjoined when a son is born; and he is to celebrate the ceremony proper

Chapter XIV AURVA proceeded: "Let the devout performer of an ancestral oblation propitiate Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aśvīns, the sun, fire, the Vāsus, the winds, the Viśvadevas, the sages, birds, men, animals, reptiles, progenitors, and all existent things, by offering adoration to them monthly, on the fifteenth day of the moon's wane (or dark fortnight), or on the eighth day

Chapter XV AURVA proceeded: "Hear next, oh prince, what description of Brahman should be fed at ancestral ceremonies: he should be one studied in various triplets of the Rig and Yajur Vedas; one who is acquainted with the six supplementary sciences of the Vedas; one who understands the Vedas; one who practises the duties they enjoin; one who exercises penance;

Chapter XVI Things proper to be offered as food to deceased ancestors: prohibited things. Circumstances vitiating a Śrāddha: how to be avoided. Song of the Pitris, or progenitors, heard by Ikṣvāku. AURVA continued: "Ancestors are satisfied for a month with offerings of rice or other grain, with clarified butter, with fish, or the flesh of the hare, of birds, of

Chapter XVII Of heretics, or those who reject the authority of the Vedas: their origin, as described by Vasiṣṭha to Bhīṣma: the gods, defeated by the Daityas, praise Viṣṇu: an illusory being, or Buddha, produced from his body. PARĀŚARA: Thus, in former days, spoke the holy Aurva to the illustrious monarch Sāgara, when he inquired concerning practices proper to be

Chapter XVIII Buddha goes to the earth, and teaches the Daityas to condemn the Vedas: his sceptical doctrines: his prohibition of animal sacrifices. Meaning of the term Bauddha. Jainas and Bauddhas; their tenets. The Daityas lose their power, and are overcome by the gods. Meaning of the term Yagna. Consequences of neglect of duty. Story of Śatadhanu and his wife

Chapter I Dynasties of kings. Origin of the solar dynasty from Brahmā. Sons of the Manu Vaivaswata. Transformations of Ilā or Sudyumna. Descendants of the sons of Vaivaswata; those of Nediṣṭha. Greatness of Māruta. Kings of Vaiśālī. Descendants of Śaryāti. Legend of Raivata; his daughter Revatī married to Balarāma. MAITREYA: Venerable preceptor, you have explained to me the perpetual and

Chapter II Dispersion of Revata's descendants: those of Dhṛṣṭa: those of Nābhāga. Birth of Ikṣvāku, the son of Vaivaswata: his sons. Line of Vikukṣi. Legend of Kākutstha; of Dhundhumāra; of Yuvanāśva; of Māndhātri: his daughters married to Saubhari. PARĀŚARA: Whilst Kakudmi, surnamed Raivata, was absent on his visit to the region of Brahmā, the evil spirits or Rākṣasas named Puṇyajanas

Chapter III Saubhari and his wives adopt an ascetic life. Descendants of Māndhātri. Legend of Narmadā and Purukutsa. Legend of Triśanku. Bāhu driven from his kingdom by the Haihayas and Tālajanghas. Birth of Sagara: he conquers the barbarians, imposes upon them distinguishing usages, and excludes them from offerings to fire, and the study of the Vedas. HAVING thus communed with

Chapter IV The progeny of Sāgara: their wickedness: he performs an Aśvamedha: the horse stolen by Kapila: found by Sāgara's sons, who are all destroyed by the sage: the horse recovered by Amśumān: his descendants. Legend of Mitrasaha or Kalmāṣapāda, the son of Sudāsa. Legend of Khaṭvānga. Birth of Rāma and the other sons of Daśaratha. Epitome of the history

Pages