Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 54
अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
प्रियो वा यदि वा द्वेष्यस्तेषां तु श्राद्धमावपेत् । य: सहस्रं सहस्राणां भोजयेदनृतान् नर: । एकस्तान्मन्त्रवित् प्रीत: सर्वानहति भारत
priyo vā yadi vā dveṣyas teṣāṁ tu śrāddham āvapet | yaḥ sahasraṁ sahasrāṇāṁ bhojayed anṛtān naraḥ | ekas tān mantravit prītaḥ sarvān ahati bhārata ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Qu’ils lui soient chers ou odieux, il doit néanmoins offrir le śrāddha pour eux. Mais si un homme nourrit des milliers et des milliers d’indignes (pour de tels rites), un seul connaisseur des mantras, s’il est satisfait, l’emporte sur tous, ô Bhārata.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual giving is not measured merely by quantity; qualification and ritual competence matter. Even if one feeds vast numbers, the presence and satisfaction of a single competent mantra-knower can surpass that, and śrāddha should be performed without bias of personal like or dislike.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Anuśāsana Parva, he explains principles of śrāddha: one should perform it impartially, and the efficacy of the rite depends strongly on proper recipients and the involvement of a qualified mantra-knower rather than on mass feeding alone.