1They stand beyond the walls,
and at the junctions and crossroads,
they stand at the door-posts,
having come to their former homes.

2But when abundant food and drink,
both staple and non-staple, is prepared,
no one remembers these
beings, because of their past unwholesome deeds,

3Thus those who are compassionate
give to their departed relatives,
at the right time, pure, excellent,
suitable drink and food.

4Thinking: "May this go to our relatives,
may our relatives be happy!"
Those who have gathered,
the departed relatives who have assembled
around the food and drink,
respectfully offer their thanks:

5saying: " May our relatives live long!
Those to whom we owe this gain,
for we have been honoured,
those who give are not without reward!"

6For in that place there is no ploughing,
and cattle-rearing is not found there,
similarly there is no trading,
or buying and selling of gold.

7The departed in that place who have died,
have to subsist on gifts.
Just as water that rains on the highlands,
flows down to the lowlands,
so too what has been given here
is of benefit to the departed.

8Just as rivers that are full
flow and fill up the ocean,
so too what has been given here
is of benefit to the departed.

9Thinking: "He gave to me, he worked for me,
he was my relative, my friend, my companion,"
he should give gifts for the departed,
remembering what they have done before.

10For no tears, or grief,
or any other lamentations,
are of any use to the departed,
as long as their relatives continue grieving in this way.

11But that gift that has been given,
and well placed in the Saṅgha,
is of benefit to them for a long time,
immediately it is of benefit.

12This then is the definition of a relative's duties—
and by this great honour has been done to the departed,
strength has also been given to the monks,
and no little merit has been produced by you!

1. Tirokuḍḍesu tiṭṭhanti,
sandhisiṅghāṭakesu ca,
dvārabāhāsu tiṭṭhanti,
āgantvāna sakaṁ gharaṁ.

2. Pahūte annapānamhi,
khajjabhojje upaṭṭhite,
na tesaṁ koci sarati
kammapaccayā.

3. Evaṁ dadanti ñātīnaṁ
ye honti anukampakā,
suciṁ paṇītaṁ kālena,
pānabhojanaṁ.

4. "Idaṁ vo ñātinaṁ hotu,
sukhitā hontu ñātayo!"
Te ca tattha samāgantvā,
ñātipetā samāgatā

5. pahute annapānamhi,
sakkaccaṁ anumodare:
"Ciraṁ jīvantu no ñātī!
Yesaṁ hetu labhāmase,

6. amhākañ-ca katā pūjā,
dāyakā ca anipphalā!"
Na hi tattha kasī atthi,
gorakkh' ettha na vijjati,

7. vaṇijjā tādisī n' atthi,
hiraññena kayakkayaṁ.
Ito dinnena yāpenti,
petā kālakatā tahiṁ.

8. Unname udakaṁ vaṭṭaṁ,
yathā ninnaṁ pavattati,
evam-eva ito dinnaṁ,
petānaṁ upakappati.

9. Yathā vārivahā pūrā
paripūrenti sāgaraṁ,
evam-eva ito dinnaṁ,
petānaṁ upakappati.

10. "Adāsi me, akāsi me,
ñātimittā sakhā ca me,"
petānaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ dajjā,
pubbe katam-anussaraṁ.

11. Na hi ruṇṇaṁ va,
soko vā, yā c' aññā paridevanā,
na taṁ petānam-atthāya,
evaṁ tiṭṭhanti ñātayo.

12. Ayaṁ kho dakkhiṇā dinnā,
Saṅghamhi suppatiṭṭhitā,
dīgharattaṁ hitāya 'ssa,
ṭhānaso upakappati.

13. So ñātidhammo ca ayaṁ nidassito -
petāna' pūjā ca katā uḷārā,
balañ-ca bhikkhūnam-anuppadinnaṁ,
tumhehi puññaṁ pasutaṁ anappakaṁ!