Shloka 21
अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
ध्वानश्न पंक्तिदूषाश्न नावेक्षेरनू कथंचन । तस्मात् परिसृते दद्यात् तिलांश्वान्ववकीरयेत्
dhvānaśnapaṅktidūṣāśnān nāvekṣer anū kathañcana | tasmāt parisṛte dadyāt tilān śvān avakīrayet ||
Bhīṣma said: One should ensure that dogs and Brahmins who spoil the funeral-feast line do not in any way cast their gaze upon the śrāddha. Therefore, the offering should be made in a well-enclosed place, and sesame seeds should be scattered around to ward them off and protect the rite from defilement.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śrāddha should be protected from ritual defilement: the performer must prevent improper onlookers or disruptive/impure participants from affecting the rite, and should take practical measures (enclosure, scattering sesame) to safeguard its sanctity.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he gives a procedural rule for conducting śrāddha: perform the offering in a secluded/enclosed spot so that dogs and ‘line-spoilers’ do not see it, and scatter sesame seeds around as a protective measure.