Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
महामते! इस श्राद्धमें जो पहला पिण्ड पानीके भीतर चला जाता है, वह चन्द्रमाको तृप्त करता है और चन्द्रमा स्वयं देवता तथा पितरोंको तृप्त करते हैं ।।
mahāmate! asmin śrāddhe yaḥ prathamaḥ piṇḍaḥ salile praviśati sa candramasaṃ tarpayati, candramāś ca svayaṃ devān pitṝṃś ca tarpayati. bhuṅkte tu patnī yaṃ ca eṣām anujñātā tu madhyamam; putrakāmāya putraṃ tu prayacchanti pitāmahāḥ.
Wika ng sugo ng mga diyos: “O marunong, sa śrāddha na ito, ang unang piṇḍa na napapasa sa tubig ay nagbibigay-kasiyahan sa Buwan. At ang Buwan naman, sa kanyang bahagi, ay nagpapalusog at nagpapasaya sa mga diyos at sa mga ninuno. Gayundin, kapag ang asawa ng nagsasagawa—na may pahintulot ng mga nakatatanda—ay kumain ng gitnang piṇḍa, ang mga ninuno, nalulugod sa gawaing iyon, ay magbibigay ng isang anak na lalaki sa lalaking naghahangad ng supling.”
देवदूत उवाच
Śrāddha is presented as a dharmic act with cosmic linkage: offerings connect to Candra, who mediates nourishment to gods and ancestors. Properly authorized participation—especially the wife’s sanctioned act—can yield the fruit of progeny, emphasizing ritual order, consent of elders, and continuity of lineage.
A divine messenger explains the results of specific śrāddha actions: the first piṇḍa entering water satisfies the Moon, who then satisfies gods and ancestors; and the wife, with elders’ permission, eats the middle piṇḍa, by which the pleased forefathers grant a son to one who desires offspring.