²⁹ For the negligence of not worshipping the true object of adoration. ³⁰ The doubt, referred to, is why they were addressed by their sons, as sons. ³¹ _Brahmavadins_ means conversant with the knowledge of Brāhmana. The sentence is elliptical, the full import is: ye are all conversant with the knowledge of Brāhmana but not gifted with Yoga powers. ³² It is for this reason the usual practice amongst the Hindus is that they perform the Srāddha of their ancestral manes before the commencement of any ceremony. CHAPTER XVIII. AN ACCOUNT OF PITRIS. Markandeya said:—Hear from me everything from the very beginning, O son of Ganga, of my doubts which I again referred to that reverend eternal deity Sanatkumar the foremost of immortals after having been addressed by that effulgent god of gods (1-2). What is the number of those ancestral manes and in what region are they stationed? And where do live the leading gods who derive nourishment from Soma (juice)? (3) Sanatkumar said:—O foremost of those who perform sacrifices, it is laid down in Scriptures, that there are seven ancestral manes who all live in heaven. Of them four are with forms and three without them (4). O you having asceticism for your wealth, hear, I will describe at length their region, creation, prowess and greatness (5). Of them the most excellent three assumed the form of Dharma (virtue). Hear, I shall describe their names and regions (6). The regions, where the effulgent and formless ancestral manes, the sons of Prajāpati live, are (designated as) eternal (7). O foremost of the twice-born, the region of Virāja is known by the name of Vairāja. The celestials adore them with ceremonies laid down in Scriptures (8). These Brahmavādins, when they deviate from the paths of Yoga come down to _Sanatana_ (eternal) regions and after the expiration of a thousand yugas they take their birth (9). Then obtaining again the recollection of the most excellent Sānkhya Yoga and securing the consummate development of their powers they again attain to that Yoga state which it is so hard to acquire (10). O my child, they are the Pitris who enhance the ascetic powers of the Yogins and they, by their Yoga, propitiated Soma in the days of yore (11). Therefore Srāddhas should be performed particularly for the Yogins. This is the first creation of the high-souled drinkers of Soma (12). Their mind-begotten daughter Mena was the first wife of the mountain chief Himalaya. Her son was called Maināka (13). His son was the effulgent great mountain Krauncha. This best of mountains was white and abounded in various sorts of jewels (14). The mountain-king begat on Mena three daughters, namely, Aparna, Ekaparnā—and the third was Ekapatāla (15). Having carried on hard austerities, which even the Gods and Dānavas cannot practise with difficulty, those three daughters disturbed all the worlds consisting of mobile and immobile creatures (16).