Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
"प्रथम पिण्ड किसे देना चाहिये? दूसरा पिण्ड किसे प्राप्त होता तथा तीसरे पिण्डपर किसका अधिकार माना गया है? यह सब कुछ मैं जानना चाहता हूँ” ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | prathamaṁ piṇḍaṁ kise denā cāhiye? dvitīyaḥ piṇḍaḥ kise prāptaḥ bhavati tathā tṛtīya-piṇḍe kasya adhikāraḥ manyate? etat sarvaṁ ahaṁ jñātum icchāmi || śraddadhānena dūtena bhāṣitaṁ dharma-saṁhitam | pūrva-sthāḥ tri-daśāḥ sarve pitaraḥ pūjyāḥ khe-caram, tasya śraddhālu deva-dūtasya evaṁ dharma-yukta-bhāṣaṇe pūrva-diśi sthitāḥ sarve devāḥ pitaraś ca taṁ ākāśa-cāriṇaṁ puruṣaṁ praśaṁsantaḥ ūcuḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“第一团供饭（piṇḍa）应献给谁？第二团由谁领受？第三团的享用之权又承认为谁所有？这一切我都愿知。”那位虔诚的天使既已说出合乎法（dharma）之言，驻于东方的诸天与祖灵（Pitṛs）——皆应受敬礼——便称赞那位行于空中的使者，并作答复。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question about correct ritual entitlement in śrāddha: the ordered offering of piṇḍas is not arbitrary but governed by duty and rightful claim (adhikāra), and faithful, dharma-aligned speech is affirmed by higher beings (gods and Pitṛs).
Bhishma asks for clarification on who should receive the first, second, and third piṇḍa offerings. After a devoted messenger speaks in a dharma-consistent manner, the gods and ancestral spirits in the eastern quarter praise the sky-moving figure and prepare to answer.