Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
विश्वामित्र उवाच श्रूयतां परम गुह्ां रहस्यं धर्मसंहितम् । परमान्नेन यो दद्यात् पितृणामौपहारिकम्
viśvāmitra uvāca śrūyatāṃ parama-guhyaṃ rahasyaṃ dharma-saṃhitam | paramānnena yo dadyāt pitṝṇām aupahārikam ||
Viśvāmitra disse: “Ouvi este ensinamento supremamente secreto, um mistério firmado no dharma. Quem oferecer, como dádiva destinada aos Pitṛs (espíritos ancestrais), o alimento mais excelente—tal oferenda é declarada portadora de mérito extraordinário.”
विश्वामित्र उवाच
The verse frames giving excellent food as an offering for the Pitṛs as an esoteric dharma-teaching, emphasizing that properly directed charity connected to ancestral duty yields exceptional religious merit.
Viśvāmitra addresses his audience and introduces a ‘secret’ dharma instruction, beginning a description of the special merit obtained by making a high-quality food-offering as a gift for the ancestors.