Shloka 41
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
“अब श्राद्धमें निषिद्ध अन्न आदि वस्तुओंका वर्णन करता हूँ। अनाजमें कोदो और पुलक-सरसो
varjayel lavaṇaṃ sarvaṃ tathā jambūphalāni ca | avakṣutāvaruditaṃ tathā śrāddhe ca varjayet ||
Bhishma explains the discipline of purity in śrāddha (ancestral offerings): one should exclude certain items and conditions that are considered ritually unsuitable. In particular, all kinds of salt and jambu fruits are to be avoided, and food that has been defiled—such as by sneezing over it—or associated with improper emotional disturbance like weeping, should also be rejected for śrāddha. The ethical thrust is that reverence for ancestors is expressed through careful restraint, cleanliness, and avoidance of anything viewed as contaminating or careless.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śrāddha should be performed with strict attention to ritual suitability: avoid items deemed impure or inappropriate (here, salt and jambu fruits) and avoid food that has been contaminated (e.g., sneezed upon) or associated with improper disturbance (weeping), emphasizing reverence through cleanliness and restraint.
Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma, lists exclusions for the śrāddha rite—specific substances and conditions that invalidate or diminish the sanctity of the ancestral offering.