Shloka 5
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
यस्य त्रैवार्षिकं भक्त पर्याप्तं भृत्यवृत्तये । अधिकं चापि विद्येत स सोम॑ पातुमहति,जिस ब्राह्मणके पास अपने पालनीय कुट॒म्बी-जनोंके भरण-पोषणके लिये तीन वर्षतक उपभोगमें आने लायक पर्याप्त धन हो अथवा उससे भी अधिक वैभव विद्यमान हो, वही सोमपानका अधिकारी है--उसे ही सोमयागका अनुष्ठान करना चाहिये
yasya traivārṣikaṃ bhaktaṃ paryāptaṃ bhṛtya-vṛttaye | adhikaṃ cāpi vidyeta sa somaṃ pātum arhati ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Somente o brâmane que possui provisões e riqueza suficientes para três anos, a fim de sustentar os que dele dependem—e ainda mais além disso—é apto a beber o Soma. Tal homem deve empreender o sacrifício do Soma, pois este rito deve ser realizado sobre o alicerce de um sustento seguro e do amparo responsável da casa, não a partir da carência.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual privilege (Soma-drinking/Soma-sacrifice) is tied to ethical readiness: a Brahmin should first be able to sustain dependents securely (at least three years’ provisions, preferably surplus). The rite is not to be pursued at the cost of household responsibility.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he lays down a criterion for who is qualified to perform the Soma-sacrifice: only one with adequate, stable resources for maintaining dependents is considered fit for Soma-drinking and thus for undertaking the Soma-yajña.