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 ||
毗湿摩说道：“在黑半月（kṛṣṇa-pakṣa）中，自第十日（daśamī）起直至新月日（amāvāsyā），诸月日皆被视为适宜行施祖祭（śrāddha）——唯独第十四日（caturdaśī）除外。其余诸日（如初一至初九）则不被同等推崇。”
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.