Chapter 9 - Admiration of Dharma by Shree Hari and detailed ritual of five Yagna meant for Grihastha

Admiration of Dharma by Shree Hari and detailed ritual of five Yagna meant for householder. 

Shri Hari said: - 

‘One should slowly and slowly, accrue religious merits like ants build an anthill. Religion indeed is the only refuge for a person who does not unnecessarily bother others but helps them out. When (his) living body ceases to exist, his kinsmen, father, mother, brother, wife, sons and the kindred instantly turn their faces away from him. His religion alone follows him. 1 - 3. 

If Kama (Purushartha) was to be protected, why was it then burnt by Lord Shiva? If tha (Purushartha) was to be given protection, why did Harischandra and others did not hang on to it? 4. 

Religion was protected by all the kings of yore and the doyens like Dadhichi (and that too) by sacrificing their own bodies. 5. 

Lord Vishnu, who is the ruler of their world, is pleased by the performance of religious activities by His devotees. This whole world is indeed supported by the practice of religion. 6. 

Ten uncommon divinity lying in Dharma. 

In the triad, Trivarga: Dharma, Artha, and Kama, Dharma i.e. religion is considered best on the basis of merit. Artha (worldly prosperity) is considered the second best and the Kama, i.e. desire for the sensual pleasures is regarded as less important. Hence, Dharma i.e. religion should be sought for. Observance of Artha and Kama should never conflict with Dharma. ‘O You possessed of noble qualities! Scholars have enumerated ten noble qualities of Dharma. They are: penance, donations, forgiveness, faith, pure mindedness -absence of jealousy, intellectual proficiency, performing sacrifices, kindness, truth and self-control. In this world, by observing religion, people have prospered and the great seers have reached emancipation. 7 - 10. 

Hence householders should devote themselves to religion and perform the five great sacrifices. These are recommended for the eradication of contamination created by five implements causing violence (Pancha-suna): pestle, grind-stone, fire-place, water jar, and broom. These are the five things in a house which leads a householder to commit injury. To expel (these) sinful effects, five great sacrifices should to be performed. Otherwise being perturbed by these five evils, he will be thrown to the hell. 11 - 13 

Procedure and importance of five great sacrifices. 

Daiva, Bhoutika, Paitra, Brahma and Manusha are the five great sacrifices which are capable of eradicating all the injurious effects. 14. 

Devyagna:- 

A sacrifice in which an oblation to the Gods is offered is called Devayajna. A sacrifice named Shalagni is performed with offerings in a Smarta or Avasathya fire (in the house). If a sacrifice is to be performed without fire, then the offering can be made in the regular kitchen fire. 15. 

In the absence of fire, a Brahmin should make offerings to water or to the earth (ground). In the absence of food, he may perform a Deva-yajna (Vaishvadeva) with vegetables. 16. 

Bhutyagna:- 

The Bhuta-yajna is one, in which regular offering of the remnants of food is made to Parjanya (Rain God) and Prithvi (Earth) after daubing the ground. 17. 

Brahamyagna:- 

Study of one’s own branch of learning i.e. Brahma-yajna is to be performed before the regular offerings. If not, then it should be performed after the Vaishvadeva (Deva- yajna) as per one’s own ability. 18. 

Brahma-yajna is threefold. It is to be performed in the early morning between seven to twelve Ghatikas (Samgava period), after performing daily rites like bath etc, or after Vaishvadeva. 19. 

A Brahmin of the Rigveda branch performs a Brahma-yajna by standing in water, holding Kusha grass in his hand. Subsequently, he performs the afternoon ritual. 20. 

After taking bath in the mid-noon and performing the Sandhya- ritual, the Brahmin of the Taittariya branch (of Krishna Yajurveda) should perform Brahma-yajna and make his offerings. 21. 

He may recite at least one Sukta of his own Vedic rescension or recite Shrisukta, Purusha sukta or Vishnu stotra. 22. 

If recitation of Vedic texts is not possible, he should devotedly recite the Gayatri Mantra with Pranava (Omkara) for his Svadhyaya. 23. 

Pitruyagna:- 

Every day, one should offer meals to a Brahmin for the sake of his deceased father. If this is not possible, one should keep a ball of rice on the ground as a Pitru-makha (sacrifice for the deceased father). 24. 

Manushyagna:- 

Then, one should offer some food to the cows, dogs, crows and such other small creatures or keep it at the threshold (doorstep). At the conclusion of the Vaishvadeva, they can wait upon a child, an old or a young or a learned person, or even a layman and feed him, considering him to be the Vishnu incarnate (Achyuta). 25 - 26. 

If a Brahmin, regularly offers alms in the form of food to a guest, as per his ability, it is considered equivalent to human sacrifice. One mouthful of food offered is considered as alms. Four mouthfuls of food offered is called as Agra and sixteen mouthfuls (four Agras) of food is considered as a full meal (Hantakara). 27 - 28. 

He should worship a guest who visits him after the concluding of Vaishvadeva and offer him food, water (to drink), flowers, sandal paste etc. 29. 

Characteristics of Atithi. 

One should never treat his friends or habitants of his village as his guests; a guest should be a person who arrives all of a sudden and (as such) his family name or Gotra should be unknown. 30. 

A learned man should not enquire about the Gotra (family name), character, education or about the personality of the guest. He should regard him as Prajapati Himself. 31. 

He is called a guest (Atithi); because he does not visit regularly. When the guest is satisfied, the householder is freed from the bondage of performing a Manushya-yajna. 32. 

Six types of Dharma-Bhikshuka. 

A traveller, a passer-by pilgrim who has few desires, a student, an ascetic and a celibate are the six (persons) who are regarded as righteous mendicants (Dharma Bhikshuka). 33. 

A sanyasi, a celibate worshipper of fire and a performer of different sacrifices are always regarded as distinguished guests. 34. 

If a host takes his meals without offering any food to them, he suffers from sin in his subsequent births. 35. 

If a guest leaves the house without his wishes being fulfilled, he leaves his sinful deeds to the host and seizes the meritorious deeds of the host to his own credit. 36. 

Whatever the host himself eats or drinks, he should worship the guest with the same i.e. offer it to the guest with respect. 37. 

While offering the gift of food or clothing, one should never think of his eligibility. One who is really starving for food and who is devoid of clothes to wear, is indeed an eligible guest. 38. 

Thus, I have narrated the ritual of the Pancha-yajna in brief and have explained at length how it is to be performed by the householder. 39. 

If through obsession, the householder takes his food without performing these five sacrifices, he enters evil and inferior births (in future) and has to experience severe suffering at the hands of God Yama after death. Hence the wise people should perform the five great sacrifices regularly. 40 - 41. 

Thus ends the ninth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of the mode of Smarta duties’ in the fifth Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra (the rules of the code of conduct). 9