Shloka 24
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
चीर्णव्रता गुणैर्युक्ता भवेयुर्येडपि कर्षका: । सावित्रीज्ञा: क्रियावन्तस्ते राजन् केतनक्षमा:
bhīṣma uvāca |
cīrṇavratā guṇairyuktā bhaveyur ye 'pi karṣakāḥ |
sāvitrījñāḥ kriyāvantas te rājan ketanakṣamāḥ ||
Bhishma dijo: «Oh rey, aunque vivan del cultivo, aquellos brahmanes que observan fielmente sus votos, están dotados de buenas cualidades, son diligentes en los ritos prescritos y conocen la Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) son aptos para ser invitados al śrāddha.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that eligibility for being invited to a śrāddha is grounded in character and Vedic discipline—observance of vows, possession of virtues, and diligence in rites—rather than being disqualified merely due to one’s livelihood such as farming.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises the king about whom to invite for śrāddha. He clarifies that even Brahmins who work as cultivators may be invited if they are vow-observant, virtuous, ritually diligent, and know the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī).