अनुशासनिक पर्व — पितृहरूलाई दिइने अक्षय दान

Yudhishthira said O you of great power, tell me what that object is which if dedicated to the departed Manes, becomes inexhaustible! What Havi, again, (if offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that which becomes eternal?

Bhishma said Hear me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons conversant with the ritual of the Shraddha consider as suitable for the Shraddha and what the fruits are of each.

With sesame seeds, rice, barley, Masha water, root and fruits, if given at Shraddhas, the departed Manes, O king, remain pleased for a month.

Manu has said that if a Shraddha is performed with profuse sesame, such Shraddha becomes inexhaustible. Of all sorts of food, sesame seeds are considered as the best.

With fishes offered at Shraddhas, the departed Manes remain pleased for two months. With mutton they remain pleased for three months and with the flesh of the hare for four.

With the flesh of the goat, o king, they remain pleased for five months, with becon for six months, and with the flesh of birds for seven.

With venison got from those deer that are called Prishata, they remain pleased for eight months, and with that obtained from the Ruru for nine months, and with the meat of the Gavaya for ten months.

With the meat of the buffalo they remain pleased for eleven months. With beef presented at the Shraddha, they remain pleased for a full year. Payas mixed with clarified butter is as much as acceptable to the departed Manes as beef. With the meat of the Vadhrinasa the Pitris remained pleased for twelve years.

The flesh of the Rhinoceros, offered to the departed Manes on the anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died, becomes endless. The potherb called Kalashaka, the petals of the Kanchana flower, and meat of the goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible.

Regarding it, O Yudhishthira, there are some Verses, originally sung by the departed Manes, that are now sung (in the world). Sanatkumara communicated them to me former days.

He who has taken birth in our race, should give us Payasa mixed with clarified butter on the thirteenth day (of the dark fortnight), under the constellation Magha, during the Sun's southward course.

One born in our race, should under the constellation Magha, as if in the observance of a vow, offer the meat of goat or the petals of the Kanchana flower. One should also offer us, with due rites, Payasa mixed with clarified butter, dedicating it on a spot covered by the shadow of an elephant.

Many sons should be coveted so that even one may go to Gaya, where stands the banian that is celebrated over all the worlds and that makes all offerings made under its branches endless.

Even a little of water, roots, fruits, meat, and rice, mixed with honey, if offered on the anniversary of the day of death, becomes endless.