The Ninth Book. Chapter 44
The Ninth Book
Chapter Xliv
On The Story Of Svadh Dev In The Discourse Between Nrada And Nryana
p. 976
1-18. Nryana said said :-- O Nrada! I will tell you now the excellent anecdote of Svadh, pleasing to the Pitris and enhancing the fruits of the Srdh ceremony when foods are offered to the Pitris. Listen. Before the creation, the Creator created seven Pitris. Four out of them are with forms and the other three are of the nature of Teja (light).
Note :-- Kavyavhoanalah Somo Yamaschaivryam tath, Agnisvtth Barhisadah Somap Pitri Devath. These seven Pitris are according to the other Purnas. Seeing the beautiful and lovely forms of the Pitris, He made arrangements for their food in the form of Srddhas and
p. 977
Tarpanas, etc. (funeral ceremony and peace-offerings), etc. (Srdh, solemn obsequies performed in honour of the manes of deceased ancestors.)
Taking bath, performing Srdh ceremony upto Tarpanam (peace-offerings), worshipping the Devas and doing Sandhy thrice a day; these are the daily duties of the Brhmanas. If any Brhmana does not perform daily the Trisandhys, Srddha, Tarpanam, worship and the reciting of the Vedas, he becomes devoid of fire like a snake without any poison. He who does not perform the devotional service of the Dev, who eats food not offered to Sr Hari, who remains impure till death, is not entitled to do any karma whatsoever. Thus, introducing the Srddhas, etc., for the Pitris, Brahm went to His own abode. The Brhmanas went on doing the Srddhas for the Pitris, but the Pitris could not enjoy them and so they remained without food and were not satisfied. They all, being hungry and sad, went to the Council of Brahm and informed Him everything from beginning to end. Brahm then created out of His mind one daughter very beautiful, full of youth and having a face lovely, as if equal to one hundred moons. That woman was best in all respects whether in form, beauty, qualities or in learning. Her colour was white like the white Champaka flower and her body was adorned all over with jewel ornaments. This form was very pure, ready to grant boons, auspicious and the part of Prakriti. Her face was beaming with smiles; her teeth were very beautiful and her body showed signs of Laksm (i.e., of wealth and prosperity). Her name was Svadh. Her lotus-feet were situated on one hundred lotuses. She was the wife of the Pitris. Her face resembled that of a lotus and Her eyes looked like water lilies. She was born of the lotus born Brahm. The Grand-father Brahm made over that daughter of the nature of Tusti (Contentment) to the hands of the Pitris and they were satisfied. Brahm advised the Brhmanas privately that whenever they would offer anything to the Pitris, they should offer duly with the mantra Svadh pronounced at the end. Since then the Brhmanas are offering everything to the Pitris, with the Mantra Svadh uttered in the end. Svh is laudable, when offerings are presented to the Gods and Svadh is commendable when offerings are made to the Pitris. But in both the cases, Daksin is essential. Without Daksin (sacrificial fee), all sacrifices are useless and worthless. The Pitris, Devats, Brhmanas, the Munis, the Manus worshipped the peaceful Svadh and chanted hymns to Her with great love. The Devas, Pitris, Brhmanas, all were pleased and felt their ends achieved when they got the boon from Svadh Dev. Thus I have told you everything about Svadh. It is pleasing to all. What more do you want to hear? Say. I will answer all your questions.
p. 978
19. Nrada said :-- "O Thou, the Best of the knowers of the Vedas! O Muni Sattama! I want now to hear the method of worship, the meditation and the hymns of Svadh Dev. Kindly tell me all about this."
20-27. Nryana said :-- You know everything about the all-auspicious Dhyn, Stotra, as stated in the Vedas; then why do you ask me again? However I will speak out this for the enhancement of knowledge. On the thirteenth day of the Dark Fortnight in autumn when the Magh asterism is with the Moon and on the Srddha day. One should worship with care Svadh Dev; then one should perform Srddha. If, out of vanity, a Brhmin performs Srdh without first worshipping Svadh Dev then he will never get the fruits of Tarpanam or Srdh. "O Dev Svadhe! Thou art the mind-born daughter of Brahm, always young and worshipped by the Pitris. Thou bestowest the fruits of Srddh. So I meditate on Thee." Thus meditating, the Brhmin is to pronounce the motto (mla mantra) and offer the Pdyam, etc., on the Slagrma stone or on the auspicious earthen jar. This is the ruling of the Vedas. The motto is "Om Hrm, Srm, Klm, Svadh Devyai Svh." She should be worshipped with this Mantra. After reciting hymns to the Dev, one is to bow down to the Svadh Dev. O Son of Brahm! O Best of Munis! O Skilled in hearing! I now describe the stotra which Brahm composed at the beginning for the bestowal of the desired fruits to mankind. Listen.
Nryana said :-- The instant the Mantra Svadh is pronounced, men get at once the fruits of bathing in the holy places of pilgrimages. No trace of sin exists in him at that time; rather the religious merits of performing the Vjapeya sacrifice accrue to him.
28-36. \"Svadh, Svadh, Svadh," thrice this word if one calls to mind, one gets the fruits of Srdh, Tarpanam, and Bali (offering sacrifices). So much so, if one hears with devotion during the Srdh time the recitation of the hymn to Svadh, one gets, no doubt, the fruit of Srdh. If one recites the Svadh mantra thrice every time in the morning, midday and evening, every day, one gets an obedient, chaste wife begetting sons. The following is the hymn (Stotra) to Svadh :-- "O Dev Svadhe! Thou art dear to the Pitris as their vital breaths and thou art the lives of the Brhmanas. Thou art the Presiding Deity of the Srdh ceremonies and bestowest the fruits ther. O Thou of good vows! Thou art eternal, true, and of the nature of religious merits. Thou appearest in creation and disappearest in dissolution. And this appearing and disappearing go on forever. Thou art Om, thou art Svasti, Thou art Namas Kra (salutation); Thou art Svadh, Thou art Daksin, Thou art the various works as designated in the Vedas. These the Lord of the world has
p. 979
created for the success of actions." No sooner Brahm, seated in His assembly in the Brahm Loka, reciting this stotra remained silent, than Svadh Dev appeared there all at once. When Brahm handed over the lotus-faced Svadh Dev over to the hands of the Pitris, and they gladly took Her to their own abodes. He who hears with devotion and attention this stotra of Svadh, gets all sorts of rich fruits that are desired and the fruits of bathing in all the Trthas.
Here ends the Forty-fourth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the story of Svadh Dev in the discourse between Nrada and Nryana in the Mah Purnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
Chapter Xliv
On The Story Of Svadh Dev In The Discourse Between Nrada And Nryana
p. 976
1-18. Nryana said said :-- O Nrada! I will tell you now the excellent anecdote of Svadh, pleasing to the Pitris and enhancing the fruits of the Srdh ceremony when foods are offered to the Pitris. Listen. Before the creation, the Creator created seven Pitris. Four out of them are with forms and the other three are of the nature of Teja (light).
Note :-- Kavyavhoanalah Somo Yamaschaivryam tath, Agnisvtth Barhisadah Somap Pitri Devath. These seven Pitris are according to the other Purnas. Seeing the beautiful and lovely forms of the Pitris, He made arrangements for their food in the form of Srddhas and
p. 977
Tarpanas, etc. (funeral ceremony and peace-offerings), etc. (Srdh, solemn obsequies performed in honour of the manes of deceased ancestors.)
Taking bath, performing Srdh ceremony upto Tarpanam (peace-offerings), worshipping the Devas and doing Sandhy thrice a day; these are the daily duties of the Brhmanas. If any Brhmana does not perform daily the Trisandhys, Srddha, Tarpanam, worship and the reciting of the Vedas, he becomes devoid of fire like a snake without any poison. He who does not perform the devotional service of the Dev, who eats food not offered to Sr Hari, who remains impure till death, is not entitled to do any karma whatsoever. Thus, introducing the Srddhas, etc., for the Pitris, Brahm went to His own abode. The Brhmanas went on doing the Srddhas for the Pitris, but the Pitris could not enjoy them and so they remained without food and were not satisfied. They all, being hungry and sad, went to the Council of Brahm and informed Him everything from beginning to end. Brahm then created out of His mind one daughter very beautiful, full of youth and having a face lovely, as if equal to one hundred moons. That woman was best in all respects whether in form, beauty, qualities or in learning. Her colour was white like the white Champaka flower and her body was adorned all over with jewel ornaments. This form was very pure, ready to grant boons, auspicious and the part of Prakriti. Her face was beaming with smiles; her teeth were very beautiful and her body showed signs of Laksm (i.e., of wealth and prosperity). Her name was Svadh. Her lotus-feet were situated on one hundred lotuses. She was the wife of the Pitris. Her face resembled that of a lotus and Her eyes looked like water lilies. She was born of the lotus born Brahm. The Grand-father Brahm made over that daughter of the nature of Tusti (Contentment) to the hands of the Pitris and they were satisfied. Brahm advised the Brhmanas privately that whenever they would offer anything to the Pitris, they should offer duly with the mantra Svadh pronounced at the end. Since then the Brhmanas are offering everything to the Pitris, with the Mantra Svadh uttered in the end. Svh is laudable, when offerings are presented to the Gods and Svadh is commendable when offerings are made to the Pitris. But in both the cases, Daksin is essential. Without Daksin (sacrificial fee), all sacrifices are useless and worthless. The Pitris, Devats, Brhmanas, the Munis, the Manus worshipped the peaceful Svadh and chanted hymns to Her with great love. The Devas, Pitris, Brhmanas, all were pleased and felt their ends achieved when they got the boon from Svadh Dev. Thus I have told you everything about Svadh. It is pleasing to all. What more do you want to hear? Say. I will answer all your questions.
p. 978
19. Nrada said :-- "O Thou, the Best of the knowers of the Vedas! O Muni Sattama! I want now to hear the method of worship, the meditation and the hymns of Svadh Dev. Kindly tell me all about this."
20-27. Nryana said :-- You know everything about the all-auspicious Dhyn, Stotra, as stated in the Vedas; then why do you ask me again? However I will speak out this for the enhancement of knowledge. On the thirteenth day of the Dark Fortnight in autumn when the Magh asterism is with the Moon and on the Srddha day. One should worship with care Svadh Dev; then one should perform Srddha. If, out of vanity, a Brhmin performs Srdh without first worshipping Svadh Dev then he will never get the fruits of Tarpanam or Srdh. "O Dev Svadhe! Thou art the mind-born daughter of Brahm, always young and worshipped by the Pitris. Thou bestowest the fruits of Srddh. So I meditate on Thee." Thus meditating, the Brhmin is to pronounce the motto (mla mantra) and offer the Pdyam, etc., on the Slagrma stone or on the auspicious earthen jar. This is the ruling of the Vedas. The motto is "Om Hrm, Srm, Klm, Svadh Devyai Svh." She should be worshipped with this Mantra. After reciting hymns to the Dev, one is to bow down to the Svadh Dev. O Son of Brahm! O Best of Munis! O Skilled in hearing! I now describe the stotra which Brahm composed at the beginning for the bestowal of the desired fruits to mankind. Listen.
Nryana said :-- The instant the Mantra Svadh is pronounced, men get at once the fruits of bathing in the holy places of pilgrimages. No trace of sin exists in him at that time; rather the religious merits of performing the Vjapeya sacrifice accrue to him.
28-36. \"Svadh, Svadh, Svadh," thrice this word if one calls to mind, one gets the fruits of Srdh, Tarpanam, and Bali (offering sacrifices). So much so, if one hears with devotion during the Srdh time the recitation of the hymn to Svadh, one gets, no doubt, the fruit of Srdh. If one recites the Svadh mantra thrice every time in the morning, midday and evening, every day, one gets an obedient, chaste wife begetting sons. The following is the hymn (Stotra) to Svadh :-- "O Dev Svadhe! Thou art dear to the Pitris as their vital breaths and thou art the lives of the Brhmanas. Thou art the Presiding Deity of the Srdh ceremonies and bestowest the fruits ther. O Thou of good vows! Thou art eternal, true, and of the nature of religious merits. Thou appearest in creation and disappearest in dissolution. And this appearing and disappearing go on forever. Thou art Om, thou art Svasti, Thou art Namas Kra (salutation); Thou art Svadh, Thou art Daksin, Thou art the various works as designated in the Vedas. These the Lord of the world has
p. 979
created for the success of actions." No sooner Brahm, seated in His assembly in the Brahm Loka, reciting this stotra remained silent, than Svadh Dev appeared there all at once. When Brahm handed over the lotus-faced Svadh Dev over to the hands of the Pitris, and they gladly took Her to their own abodes. He who hears with devotion and attention this stotra of Svadh, gets all sorts of rich fruits that are desired and the fruits of bathing in all the Trthas.
Here ends the Forty-fourth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the story of Svadh Dev in the discourse between Nrada and Nryana in the Mah Purnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
