Shloka 44
अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
यथोषरे बीजमुप्तं न रोहे- न्न चावप्ता प्राप्तुयाद् बीजभागम् | एवं श्राद्ध भुक्तमनर्हमाणै- न चेह नामुत्र फलं ददाति
yathoṣare bījam uptaṁ na rohe(n) na cāvaptā prāpnuyād bījabhāgam | evaṁ śrāddha-bhuktam anarha-māṇaiḥ na ceha nāmutra phalaṁ dadāti ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Kung paanong ang binhing inihasik sa lupang tigang at maalat ay hindi sisibol at walang balik sa naghahasik, gayon din ang pagkain ng śrāddha kapag kinain ng mga hindi karapat-dapat ay walang naidudulot na pakinabang—ni sa mundong ito ni sa susunod. Nagbubunga lamang ang ritwal kapag inihandog nang may wastong pag-unawa sa mga nararapat tumanggap.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual acts like śrāddha yield merit only when performed with proper discernment; offerings given to unworthy recipients are compared to sowing seed in barren soil—no spiritual or worldly fruit results.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he explains the conditions under which śrāddha becomes effective, using an agricultural analogy to warn that feeding unfit recipients nullifies the intended benefit for the performer and the ancestors.