Shloka 24
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
चीर्णव्रता गुणैर्युक्ता भवेयुर्येडपि कर्षका: । सावित्रीज्ञा: क्रियावन्तस्ते राजन् केतनक्षमा:
bhīṣma uvāca |
cīrṇavratā guṇairyuktā bhaveyur ye 'pi karṣakāḥ |
sāvitrījñāḥ kriyāvantas te rājan ketanakṣamāḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、たとえ生業が耕作であっても、誓戒を忠実に守り、善き徳を備え、定められた儀礼に励み、サーヴィトリー（ガーヤトリー）を知るバラモンは、シュラーダに招くにふさわしい。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that eligibility for being invited to a śrāddha is grounded in character and Vedic discipline—observance of vows, possession of virtues, and diligence in rites—rather than being disqualified merely due to one’s livelihood such as farming.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises the king about whom to invite for śrāddha. He clarifies that even Brahmins who work as cultivators may be invited if they are vow-observant, virtuous, ritually diligent, and know the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī).