Shloka 18
Śrāddha-dvija-parīkṣā: Paṅkti-dūṣa and Paṅkti-pāvana (श्राद्धे द्विजपरीक्षा—पङ्क्तिदूष-पङ्क्तिपावन)
कृष्णपक्षे दशम्यादौ वर्जयित्वा चतुर्दशीम् श्राद्धकर्मणि तिथ्यस्तु प्रशस्ता न तथेतरा:
bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣṇapakṣe daśamyādau varjayitvā caturdaśīm | śrāddhakarmaṇi tithyastu praśastā na tathetarāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Sa madilim na kalahati ng buwan (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa), mula sa ikasampung araw (daśamī) hanggang sa araw ng bagong buwan (amāvāsyā), ang mga tithi ay itinuturing na kanais-nais para sa śrāddha—maliban sa ika-labing-apat (caturdaśī). Ang iba pang mga araw (gaya ng una hanggang ikasiyam) ay hindi itinuturing na kasing-halaga para rito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dharma in ancestral rites includes proper timing: in the dark fortnight, śrāddha is generally recommended from Daśamī through Amāvāsyā, with Caturdaśī specifically avoided, while earlier tithis are not considered equally suitable.
Within Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and observances, he gives a practical rule about calendrical suitability for performing śrāddha, distinguishing preferred tithis from those considered less appropriate.