The forefathers

udīratāmavara ut parāsa un madhyamāḥ pitaraḥsomyāsaḥ |
asuṃ ya īyuravṛkā ṛtajñāste no.avantupitaro haveṣu ||
idaṃ pitṛbhyo namo astvadya ye pūrvāso ya uparāsa īyuḥ |
ye pārthive rajasyā niṣattā ye vā nūnaṃ suvṛjanāsuvikṣu ||
āhaṃ pitṝn suvidatrānavitsi napātaṃ ca vikramaṇaṃ caviṣṇoḥ |
barhiṣado ye svadhayā sutasya bhajanta pitvastaihāghamiṣṭhāḥ ||
barhiṣadaḥ pitara ūtyarvāghimā vo havyā cakṛmā juṣadhvam |
ta ā ghatāvasā śantamenāthā naḥ śaṃ yorarapodadhāta ||
upahūtāḥ pitaraḥ somyāso barhiṣyeṣu nidhiṣu priyeṣu |
ta ā ghamantu ta iha śruvantvadhi bruvantu te.avantvasmān ||
ācyā jānu dakṣiṇato niṣadyemaṃ yajñamabhi ghṛṇītaviśve |
mā hiṃsiṣṭa pitaraḥ kena cin no yad va āghaḥpuruṣatā karāma ||
āsīnāso aruṇīnāmupasthe rayiṃ dhatta dāśuṣe martyāya |
putrebhyaḥ pitarastasya vasvaḥ pra yachata ta ihorjandadhāta ||
ye naḥ pūrve pitaraḥ somyāso.anūhire somapīthaṃvasiṣṭhāḥ |
tebhiryamaḥ saṃrarāṇo havīṃṣyuśannuśadbhiḥ pratikāmamattu ||
ye tātṛṣurdevatrā jehamānā hotrāvida stomataṣṭāsoarkaiḥ |
āghne yāhi suvidatrebhirarvāṃ satyaiḥ kavyaiḥpitṛbhirgharmasadbhiḥ ||
ye satyāso havirado haviṣpā idreṇa devaiḥ sarathandadhānāḥ |
āghne yāhi sahasraṃ devavandaiḥ paraiḥpūrvaiḥ pitṛbhirgharmasadbhiḥ ||
aghniṣvāttāḥ pitara eha ghachata sadaḥ-sadaḥ sadatasupraṇītayaḥ |
attā havīṃṣi prayatāni barhiṣyathārayiṃ sarvavīraṃ dadhātana ||
tvamaghna īḷito jātavedo.avāḍ ḍhavyāni surabhīṇikṛtvī |
prādāḥ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhayā te akṣannaddhi tvandeva prayatā havīṃṣi ||
ye ceha pitaro ye ca neha yāṃśca vidma yānu ca napravidma |
tvaṃ vettha yati te jātavedaḥ svadhābhiryajñaṃ sukṛtaṃ juṣasva ||
ye aghnidaghdhā ye anaghnidaghdhā madhye divaḥ svadhayāmādayante |
tebhiḥ svarāḷ asunītimetāṃ yathāvaśantanvaṃ kalpayasva ||

1. MAY they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the Fathers who deserve a share of Soma-
May they who have attained the life of spirits, gentle and righteous, aid us when we call them.
2 Now let us pay this homage to the Fathers, to those who passed of old and those who followed,
Those who have rested in the earthly region, and those who dwell among the Mighty Races.
3 1 have attained the gracious-minded Fathers, I have gained son and progeny from Viṣṇu.
They who enjoy pressed juices with oblation seated on sacred grass, come oftenest hither.
4 Fathers who sit on sacred grass, come, help us: these offerings have we made for you; accept them.
So come to us with most auspicious favour, and give us health and strength without a trouble.
5 May they, the Fathers, worthy of the Soma, invited to their favourite oblations.
Laid on the sacred grass, come nigh and listen: may they be gracious unto us and bless us.
6 Bowing your bended knees and seated southward, accept this sacrifice of ours with favour.
Punish us not for any sin, O Fathers, which we through human frailty have committed.
7 Lapped in the bosom of the purple Mornings, give riches to the man who brings oblations.
Grant to your sons a portion of that treasure, and, present, give them energy, ye Fathers.
8 Our ancient Fathers who deserve the Soma, who came, most noble, to our Soma banquet,—
With these let Yama, yearning with the yearning, rejoicing eat our offerings at his pleasure.
9 Come to us, Agni, with the gracioug Fathers who dwell in glowing light, the very Kavyas,
Who thirsted mid the Gods, who hasten hither, oblation winners, theme of singers' praises.
10 Come, Agni, come with countless ancient Fathers, dwellers in light, primeval, God-adorers,
Eaters and drinkers of oblations, truthful, who travel with the Deities and Indra.
11 Fathers whom Agni's flames have tasted, come ye nigh: ye kindly leaders, take ye each your proper place.
Eat sacrificial food presented on the grass: grant riches with a multitude of hero sons.
12 Thou, Agni Jātavedas, when entreated, didst bear the offerings which thou madest fragrant,
And give them to the Fathers who did cat them with Svadha. Eat, thou God, the gifts we bring thee.
13 Thou, Jātavedas, knowest well the number of Fathers who are here and who are absent,
Of Fathers whom we know and whom we know not: accept the sacrifice wellprepared with portions.
14 They who, consumed by fire or not cremated, joy in their offering in the midst of heaven,—
Grant them, O Sovran Lord, the world of spirits and their own body, as thy pleasure wills it.