Shloka 16
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
ज्ञातीनां तु भवेच्छेष्ठ: कुर्वन् श्राद्ध त्रयोदशीम् । अवश्यं तु युवानो<स्य प्रमीयन्ते नरा गृहे
bhīṣma uvāca |
ñātīnāṃ tu bhavec chreṣṭhaḥ kurvan śrāddhaṃ trayodaśīm |
avaśyaṃ tu yuvāno 'sya pramīyante narā gṛhe ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Entre los parientes, un hombre llega a ser el más eminente cuando realiza el śrāddha en el decimotercer día lunar (trayodaśī). Pero si realiza el śrāddha en el decimocuarto (caturdaśī), entonces en su casa los jóvenes mueren sin falta antes de tiempo».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the timing of śrāddha matters: performing it on trayodaśī is praised as elevating one’s standing among relatives, while performing it on caturdaśī is warned against due to harmful consequences for the household.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about proper observance of ancestral rites, specifically recommending trayodaśī for śrāddha and cautioning against inauspicious days.