Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
ऋषय ऊचुर गाश्व भूमिं च वित्त च दत्त्वेह भूगुनन्दन । पापकृत् पूयते मर्त्य इति भार्गव शुश्रुम
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ—gāṃ aśvaṃ bhūmiṃ ca vittaṃ ca dattvaiha bhṛgunandana | pāpakṛt pūyate martya iti bhārgava śuśruma ||
Sinabi ng mga rishi: “O ligaya ng angkan ng Bhṛgu, O Bhārgava, narinig namin na ang isang mortal na nagkasala ay nalilinis dito sa mundong ito sa pamamagitan ng pagkakawanggawa ng isang baka, isang kabayo, lupa, at kayamanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse presents a traditional dharma-idea: charitable giving—especially high-value gifts like a cow, horse, land, and wealth—is regarded as a means of moral purification for one burdened by sin, functioning as a form of atonement and ethical restoration.
Within Bhīṣma’s discourse on dharma, the sages address a Bhārgava (called Bhṛgunandana) and report what they have heard: that sinners can become purified in this life through specific forms of dāna (gifts), setting up discussion on the efficacy and conditions of such expiatory charity.