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1. Now the water libations (which are performed for deceased persons).

2 ¹ . When (a child) that has not reached the age of two years dies, his father and mother become impure.

3. The other (relations) remain pure.

4. (The impurity lasts) through one night or three nights.

5. They bury the body without burning it.

6. If (a child dies) during the impurity of his mother (caused by the child’s birth), the impurity lasts till the (mother’s) getting up (from child-bed), in the same way as the impurity caused by a child’s birth.

7 ² . In this case (of the child being younger than two years) no water libations (are performed).

8. If a child of more than two years dies, all his relations should follow (the corpse) to the cemetery -

9 ³ . Singing the Yama song and murmuring the Yama hymn, according to some (teachers).

10 ⁴ . If (the dead person) has received the initiation, (the rites) from the election of the site (for the Śmaśāna) down to their descending into water (in order to bathe themselves) are the same as those prescribed for persons who have set up the (sacred Śrauta) fires.

11. They burn him with his (sacred) domestic fire, if he has kept that;

12. Silently, with a common fire, other persons.

13. They should ask one who is related (to the deceased person) by blood or by marriage, for (his permission to perform) the water-libation, in the words, ‘We shall perform the libation.’

14. (He replies), ‘Do so now and never again,’ if the deceased person was not a hundred years old.

15. (He says) only, ‘Do so,’ if he was.

16 ⁵ . All relations (of the deceased), to the seventh or to the tenth degree, descend into water.

17. If dwelling in the same village, (all) as far as they can trace their relationship.

18. They wear (only) one garment, and have the sacred cord suspended over the right shoulder.

19. With the fourth finger of the left hand they spirt away (the water) with (the words), ‘May he drive evil away from us with his splendour’ (Vāj. Saṃh. XXXV, 6).

20. Facing the south, they plunge (into the water).

21. They pour out with joined hands one libation of water to the deceased person with (the words), ‘N.N.! This water to thee!’

22. When they have come out (of the water) and have sat down on a pure spot that is covered with grass, (those who are versed in ancient tales) should entertain them (by telling such tales).

23 ⁶ . They return to the village without looking back, in one row, the youngest walking in front.

24 ⁷ . In the doors of their houses they chew leaves of the Picumanda (or Nimba) tree, sip water, touch water, fire, cowdung, white mustard seeds, and oil, tread upon a stone, and then they enter.

25 ⁸ . Through a period of three nights they should remain chaste, sleep on the ground, do no work and charge nobody (to do it for them).

26. Let them eat food which they have bought or received (from. others); (they should eat it) only in the day-time, (and should eat) no meat.

27 ⁹ . Having offered to the deceased person the Piṇḍa, naming his name at the washing, at the offering (of the Piṇḍa), and at the second washing -

28 ¹⁰ . They should that night put milk and water in an earthen vessel into the open air with (the words), ‘Deceased one, bathe here!’

29 ¹¹ . The impurity caused by death lasts through three nights;

30. Through ten nights, according to some (teachers).

31. (During that period they) should not perform Svādhyāya (or study the Vedic texts for themselves).

32. They should intermit the standing rites, except those performed with the three (Śrauta) fires,

33. And (with the exception of those performed) with the (sacred) domestic fire, according to some (teachers).

34. Others should perform (those rites for them).

35. Those who have touched the dead body should not enter the village until the stars appear.

36. If (they have touched it) in the night-time, (they should not enter) till sunrise.

37 ¹² . The entering and what follows after it is the same (for these persons) as for the others.

38. (Their) impurity lasts through one or two fortnights.

39. The same (rites should be performed) when the teacher (has died),

40. Or the maternal grandfather or grandmother,

41. Or unmarried females.

42 ¹³ . For those who were married, the others should do it,

43 ¹⁴ . And they for the (others).

44 ¹⁵ . If one dies while being absent on a journey, (his relations) shall sit (on the ground, as prescribed for impure persons) from the time when they have heard (of his death), performing the water libation (at that time), until the period (of their impurity) has expired;

45. If (that period has already) elapsed, through one night or three nights.

46. Optional is the water libation for an officiating priest, a father-in-law, a friend, for (distant) relations, for a maternal uncle, and for a sister’s son;

47 ¹⁶ . And for married females.

48. On the eleventh day he should give to an uneven number of Brāhmaṇas a meal at which meat is served.

49. Some also kill a cow in honour of the deceased person.

50. When the Piṇḍas are prepared, the deceased person, if he has sons, shall be considered as the first of the (three) Fathers (to whom Piṇḍas are offered).

51 ¹⁷ . The fourth one should be left out.

52 ¹⁸ . Some (make Piṇḍa offerings to a deceased person) separately through one year (before admitting him to a share in the common Pitṛyajña).

53 ¹⁹ . But there is a rule, ‘There can be no fourth Piṇḍa’ - for this is stated in the Śruti.

54 ²⁰ . Every day he shall give food to him (i.e. to the deceased person), and if he was a Brāhmaṇa, a vessel with water.

55. Some offer also a. Piṇḍa.