Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
अत्रेः तपोबलप्रकाशः तथा च्यवनस्य सोमाधिकारः
Atri’s Illumination by Tapas; Cyavana and Soma-Entitlement
मृतकस्य तृतीयाहे ब्राह्मणो योऊन्नमश्रुते । स त्रिवेलं समुन्मज्ज्य द्वादशाहेन शुध्यति
mṛtakasya tṛtīyāhe brāhmaṇo yo 'nnam aśnute | sa triveḷaṃ samunmajjya dvādaśāhena śudhyati ||
இறந்தவரின் மூன்றாம் நாளில் அன்னம் உண்ணும் பிராமணன், மூன்று வேளைகளிலும் நீராடி பன்னிரண்டாம் நாளில் சுத்தி அடைகிறான்.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that during the post-death impurity period, one must observe restraint and ritual discipline; violating prescribed conduct (such as eating at a prohibited time) entails a defined period and method of purification—here, twelve days with thrice-daily ritual bathing.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and proper conduct. Here he states a specific rule about a Brāhmaṇa’s purification if he eats on the third day after someone’s death, indicating the expiatory timeline and the practice of tri-vela bathing.