Shloka 11
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
पज्चम्यां बहव: पुत्रा जायन्ते कुर्वतां नृप । कुर्वाणास्तु नरा: षष्ठ्यां भवन्ति द्युतिभागिन:
pañcamyāṃ bahavaḥ putrā jāyante kurvatāṃ nṛpa | kurvāṇās tu narāḥ ṣaṣṭhyāṃ bhavanti dyutibhāginaḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—पञ्चम्यां बहवः पुत्रा जायन्ते कुर्वतां नृप। षष्ठ्यां तु श्राद्धकुर्वाणाः भवन्ति द्युतिभागिनः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the timing of śrāddha (ancestral offerings) is ethically and ritually significant: performing it on specific lunar days is said to yield particular fruits—on pañcamī, abundance of sons; on ṣaṣṭhī, attainment of radiance and splendor—thereby encouraging faithful performance of pitṛ-dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the king on dharma, including rites for ancestors. Here he lists the results (phala) associated with performing śrāddha on different tithis, addressing the king directly as part of a broader teaching on ritual duty and its outcomes.