al in respect of the Sraddha in which have been declared the
mysteries connected with the Pitris. The mysteries connected with all the
deities have also been explained there. It comprehends the duties and
practices, productive of great merit, of the Rishis also, together with
the mysteries attaching to them. It contains an exposition of the merits
of great sacrifices and those that attach to all kinds of gifts. Those
men who always read the scriptures bearing on these topics, those who
bear them properly in their mind, and he who, having listened to them,
follows them in practice, are all regarded to be as holy and sinless as
the puissant Narayana himself. The merits that attach to the gift of
kine, those that belong to the performance of ablutions in sacred waters,
those that are won by the performance of sacrifices,--all these are
acquired by that man who treats guests with reverence. They who listen to
these scriptures, they who are endued with faith, and they who have a
pure heart, it is well-known, conquer many regions of happiness. Those
righteous men who are endued with faith, become cleansed of all stains
and no sin can touch them. Such men always increase in righteousness and
succeed in attaining to heaven. Once on a time, a celestial messenger,
coming to the court of Indra of his own accord, but remaining invisible,
addressed the chief of the deities in these words, 'At the command of
those two deities who are the foremost of all physicians, and who are
endued with every desirable attribute, I have come to this place where I
behold human beings and Pitris and the deities assembled together. Why,
indeed, is sexual congress interdicted for the man who performs a Sraddha
and for him also who eats at a Sraddha (for the particular day)? Why are
three rice-balls offered separately at a Sraddha? Unto whom should the
first of those balls be offered? Unto whom should the second one be
offered? And whose has it been said is the third or remaining one? I
desire to know all this.' After the celestial messenger had said these
words connected with righteousness and duty, the deities who were seated
towards the east, the Pitris also, applauding that ranger of the sky,
began as follows.

"'"The Pitris said, 'Welcome art thou, and blessings upon thee! Do thou
listen, O best of all rangers of the sky! The question thou hast asked is
a high one and fraught with deep meaning. The Pitris of that man who
indulges in sexual congress