Shloka 19
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
यथा चैवापर: पक्ष: पूर्वपक्षाद् विशिष्यते । तथा श्राद्धस्य पूर्वाह्नादपराह्नो विशिष्यते
yathā caivāparaḥ pakṣaḥ pūrvapakṣād viśiṣyate | tathā śrāddhasya pūrvāhnād aparāhno viśiṣyate ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Sebagaimana paruh bulan yang kemudian dipandang lebih utama daripada paruh yang terdahulu, demikian pula dalam śrāddha, waktu sore (aparāhna) lebih utama daripada pagi (pūrvāhna).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that, for śrāddha (ancestral offerings), the latter portion is preferred over the earlier: the later fortnight over the earlier fortnight, and the afternoon over the forenoon—highlighting dharmic attention to proper timing in ritual duty.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, including rules and preferences for śrāddha. Here he states a traditional hierarchy of auspicious times, recommending the afternoon as especially suitable for performing śrāddha.