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 ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kung ang isang brāhmaṇa ay kumain sa ikatlong araw matapos mamatay ang isang tao, magiging malinis lamang siya pagkalipas ng labindalawang araw, matapos magsagawa ng ritwal na pagligo sa tatlong itinakdang oras.”
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.