Shloka 39
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
महामते! इस श्राद्धमें जो पहला पिण्ड पानीके भीतर चला जाता है, वह चन्द्रमाको तृप्त करता है और चन्द्रमा स्वयं देवता तथा पितरोंको तृप्त करते हैं ।।
mahāmate! asmin śrāddhe yaḥ prathamaḥ piṇḍaḥ salile praviśati sa candramasaṃ tarpayati, candramāś ca svayaṃ devān pitṝṃś ca tarpayati. bhuṅkte tu patnī yaṃ ca eṣām anujñātā tu madhyamam; putrakāmāya putraṃ tu prayacchanti pitāmahāḥ.
Sang utusan para dewa berkata: “Wahai orang bijaksana, dalam śrāddha ini, piṇḍa pertama yang masuk ke dalam air menenteramkan Bulan; dan Bulan pada gilirannya menenteramkan para dewa serta para Pitṛ. Demikian pula, ketika istri pelaksana śrāddha—dengan izin para sesepuh—memakan piṇḍa yang di tengah, para leluhur yang berkenan oleh perbuatan itu menganugerahkan seorang putra kepada pria yang mendambakan keturunan.”
देवदूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śrāddha is presented as a dharmic act with cosmic linkage: offerings connect to Candra, who mediates nourishment to gods and ancestors. Properly authorized participation—especially the wife’s sanctioned act—can yield the fruit of progeny, emphasizing ritual order, consent of elders, and continuity of lineage.
A divine messenger explains the results of specific śrāddha actions: the first piṇḍa entering water satisfies the Moon, who then satisfies gods and ancestors; and the wife, with elders’ permission, eats the middle piṇḍa, by which the pleased forefathers grant a son to one who desires offspring.