Shloka 13
Śrāddha-utpatti and Nivāpa–Agni Precedence (श्राद्धोत्पत्तिः—निवापेऽग्निपूर्वकत्वम्)
पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा: कुर्वन् बहून् विन्दत्यजाविकान् । उत्तरासु प्रकुर्वाणो विन्दते गा: सहस्रश:
pūrvaproṣṭhapadāḥ kurvan bahūn vindaty ajāvikān | uttarāsu prakurvāṇo vindate gāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच— पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदासु श्राद्धं कुर्वन् बहून् अजाविकान् विन्दति। उत्तराप्रोष्ठपदासु तु प्रकुर्वाणो गाः सहस्रशो विन्दते॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That śrāddha, when performed with attention to auspicious timing (here, specific nakṣatras), is presented as yielding enhanced results; the verse frames ritual precision as part of dharma and associates it with prosperity (livestock as a traditional measure of wealth).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction section of the Anuśāsana Parva, he enumerates the fruits of performing śrāddha on particular lunar mansions, stating that Pūrvaproṣṭhapadā brings many goats/sheep, while Uttarāproṣṭhapadā brings thousands of cows.