Shloka 4
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् | पिशाचकिज्नराणां च पूज्या वै पितर: सदा,देवता, असुर, मनुष्य, गन्धर्व, नाग, राक्षस, पिशाच और किन्नर--इन सबके लिये पितर सदा ही पूज्य हैं
devāsura-manuṣyāṇāṁ gandharvoraga-rakṣasām | piśāca-kiṁnarāṇāṁ ca pūjyā vai pitaraḥ sadā ||
ദേവന്മാർ, അസുരന്മാർ, മനുഷ്യർ, ഗന്ധർവ്വർ, നാഗങ്ങൾ, രാക്ഷസർ, പിശാചുകൾ, കിന്നരർ—എല്ലാവർക്കും പിതൃകൾ എപ്പോഴും പൂജ്യരാണ്।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That honoring the Pitṛs (ancestors) is a universal dharmic obligation: across all classes of beings, the forefathers are always to be revered, emphasizing gratitude, continuity of lineage, and moral responsibility to one’s origins.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he states a general principle about the status of the Pitṛs: regardless of whether one is divine, demonic, human, or otherworldly, the ancestors remain perpetually worthy of worship and respect.