Shloka 18
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
कृष्णपक्षे दशम्यादौ वर्जयित्वा चतुर्दशीम् श्राद्धकर्मणि तिथ्यस्तु प्रशस्ता न तथेतरा:
bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣṇapakṣe daśamyādau varjayitvā caturdaśīm | śrāddhakarmaṇi tithyastu praśastā na tathetarāḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Na quinzena escura (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa), do décimo dia lunar (daśamī) em diante até o dia de lua nova (amāvāsyā), as datas lunares são tidas como recomendáveis para o rito do śrāddha—exceto o décimo quarto (caturdaśī). As outras datas (como do primeiro ao nono) não são estimadas do mesmo modo para esse propósito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma in ancestral rites includes proper timing: in the dark fortnight, śrāddha is generally recommended from Daśamī through Amāvāsyā, with Caturdaśī specifically avoided, while earlier tithis are not considered equally suitable.
Within Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and observances, he gives a practical rule about calendrical suitability for performing śrāddha, distinguishing preferred tithis from those considered less appropriate.