Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
अत्रेः तपोबलप्रकाशः तथा च्यवनस्य सोमाधिकारः
Atri’s Illumination by Tapas; Cyavana and Soma-Entitlement
इत्यर्थमपराह्ले तु पितृणां श्राद्धमुच्यते । यथोक्तानां यदश्नीयुरत्रल्यिणा: पूर्वकीर्तिता:
ity artham aparāhṇe tu pitṝṇāṁ śrāddham ucyate | yathoktānāṁ yad aśnīyur atralyiṇāḥ pūrvakīrtitāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “For this reason, the śrāddha for the Pitṛs is prescribed in the afternoon. Thus those who have been described earlier as fit and properly qualified may eat in the manner stated.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śrāddha for the ancestors is to be performed in the afternoon (aparāhṇa), so that duly qualified recipients can partake according to the prescribed rules; correct timing supports ritual propriety and purity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on śrāddha procedure, explaining why the rite is scheduled for the afternoon and linking it to the proper feeding of qualified participants.