Muni's PlayAncestors (Pitrus) in the Rig Veda
Mandala 10, Hymn 14 (Verse 7)
Rishi: Yama Vaivasvata | Devata: Pitrus/Yama | Chandas: Trishtubh
Verse 10.14.7
Sanskrit
प्रेहि प्रेहि पथिभिः पूर्व्येभिर्यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुः ।
उभा राजाना स्वधया मदन्ता यमं पश्यासि वरुणं च देवम् ॥
Word-by-Word
प्रेहि (Go forth) | पथिभिः (by paths) | पूर्व्येभिः (ancient) | यत्र (where) | नः (our) पूर्वे (ancient) | पितरः (Fathers) | परेयुः (departed) | उभा (both) | राजाना (kings) | स्वधया (with Svadha) | मदन्ता (rejoicing) | यमं (Yama) | पश्यासि (you shall see) | वरुणं (Varuna) | च (and) | देवम् (God).
Translation
Go forth, go forth by those ancient paths whereon our fathers of old have gone before; there you shall see the two kings, Yama and the divine Varuna, rejoicing in our offerings.
Mandala 10, Hymn 15 (Verses 1, 7, 13)
Verse 10.15.1
Rishi: Shankha | Devata: Pitrus | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः ।
असुं य ईयुरवृका ऋतज्ञास्ते नो अवन्तु पितरो हवेषु ॥
Word-by-Word
उदीरताम् (Arise) | अवरे (lower/recent) | परासः (higher/ancient) | मध्यमाः (middle) | पितरः (Fathers) | सोम्यासः (worthy of Soma) | असुं (life/spirit) | ईयुः (attained) | अवृकाः (harmless) | ऋतज्ञाः (knowers of Truth) | नः (us) | अवन्तु (protect) | हवेषु (in invocations).
Translation
May the Fathers—the lower, the higher, and the middle—who are worthy of Soma, arise; may those who have attained eternal life and know the Truth protect us in our prayers.
Verse 10.15.7
Rishi: Shankha | Devata: Pitrus | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
आसीनासो अरुणीनामुपस्थे रयिं धत्त दाशुषे मर्त्याय ।
पुत्रेभ्यः पितरस्तस्य वस्वः प्र यच्छत इहेषं धत्त ॥
Word-by-Word
आसीनासः (seated) | अरुणीनाम् (of the Dawns) | उपस्थे (in the lap) | रयिं (wealth) | धत्त (bestow) | दाशुषे (to giver) | मर्त्याय (to the mortal) | पुत्रेभ्यः (to the sons) | पितरः (Fathers) | वस्वः (of that treasure) | प्र यच्छत (grant) | इह (here) | इषं (nourishment).
Translation
Seated in the lap of the Dawns, O Fathers, bestow wealth upon the mortal who gives; grant to your sons a share of your treasures and provide us with nourishment here.
Verse 10.15.13
Rishi: Shankha | Devata: Pitrus/Agni | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
ये चेह पितरो ये च नेह यांश्च विद्म याँ उ च न प्रविद्म ।
त्वं वेत्थ यति ते जातवेदः स्वधाभिर्यज्ञं सुकृतं जुषस्व ॥
Word-by-Word
ये (who) | च (and) | इह (here) | नेह (not here) | यान् (whom) | च (and) | विद्म (we know) | यान् (whom) | उ (and) | न (not) | प्रविद्म (we know) | त्वं (You) | वेत्थ (know) | यति (how many) | ते (they) | जातवेदः (O Agni) | स्वधाभिः (with Svadha) | यज्ञं (sacrifice) | सुकृतं (well-prepared) | जुषस्व (accept).
Translation
O Agni, you know all the Fathers—those who are here and those who are not, those we know and those we do not; accept this well-prepared sacrifice and the offerings made in their honor.
Reference: Rig Veda