Shloka 24
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
चीर्णव्रता गुणैर्युक्ता भवेयुर्येडपि कर्षका: । सावित्रीज्ञा: क्रियावन्तस्ते राजन् केतनक्षमा:
bhīṣma uvāca |
cīrṇavratā guṇairyuktā bhaveyur ye 'pi karṣakāḥ |
sāvitrījñāḥ kriyāvantas te rājan ketanakṣamāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，即便他们以耕作为业，只要这些婆罗门恪守誓戒，具足善德，勤行所规定的仪轨，并通晓萨维特丽（即伽雅特丽，Gāyatrī），便适合受邀参加施罗陀（śrāddha）。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that eligibility for being invited to a śrāddha is grounded in character and Vedic discipline—observance of vows, possession of virtues, and diligence in rites—rather than being disqualified merely due to one’s livelihood such as farming.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises the king about whom to invite for śrāddha. He clarifies that even Brahmins who work as cultivators may be invited if they are vow-observant, virtuous, ritually diligent, and know the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī).