Verse 3.264 [Feeding of Relations]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

प्रक्षाल्य हस्तावाचाम्य ज्ञातिप्रायं प्रकल्पयेत् ।
ज्ञातिभ्यः सत्कृतं दत्त्वा बान्धवानपि भोजयेत् ॥ २६४ ॥

prakṣālya hastāvācāmya jñātiprāyaṃ prakalpayet |
jñātibhyaḥ satkṛtaṃ dattvā bāndhavānapi bhojayet || 264 ||

Having washed the hands and sipped water, he should make offerings to his paternal relations; and having treated his paternal relations well, he should feed his other relations also.—(264)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The balls having been disposed of, he should wash his hands; and then follow the rules regarding sipping of water.

‘Jñatiprāyam’—is to be explained as ‘that which goes to (praiti) to the paternal relations (jñātiṣu);’ this he should make; i.e., he should offer food to them.

‘Having treated than well, he should feed other relations.’ Those belonging to the same ‘gotra’ are called ‘jñati,’ ‘paternal relations,’ while those related on the mother’s and the wife’s side are called ‘bāṇḍhava,’ ‘releations.’

The following question is here raised:—

“It has been said above (in verse 253) that ‘he should do us they tell him;’ now if they were to tell him, ‘Send all this food to our home,’ then, what would become of the Vaiśvadeva and other oblations?”

In that case, the man will have to cook food again. Or, the offering of the remnant to the Brāhmaṇas may be regarded as being prescribed only with a view to some transcendental result,—and not with a view to their actually taking it all away. For instance, it has been laid down that —‘ When informed of food having been left, they should say it is for your friends;’ and this direction would have to be regarded as only optional, if, in certain cases, the Brāhmaṇas were to take away the food.—(264)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

There is nothing in Medhātithi to show that he reads ‘pūjayet’ for ‘bhojayet’, as stated by Buhler.

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 512), which explains ‘Jñāti’ as ‘relations on the father’s side’, and ‘bāndhava’ as ‘relations on the mother’s side’;—and in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 1515), which has the following notes:—‘Jñāti’ are relations on the father’s side, i.e., Sapiṇḍas;—the remnant of the food cooked for the Śrāddha should be made to reach those; i.e., they should be fed with it with due respect; after which one should honour the ‘Bāndhavas,’ i.e., relations on the mother’s and the wife’s side; if, however, on being asked ‘what shall be done with the remnant?’—the Brāhmaṇas should say ‘give it to us’—then other food should be cooked for the relations; and these are to be fed with the remnant, only if so permitted by the Brāhmaṇas. It may be regarded as incumbent on the Brāhmaṇas to give this permission.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Laghu-Āśvalāyana (23.70).—‘Having obtained the permission of the Brāhmaṇas, he shall eat the remnants, along with his friends.’

Brahmapurāṇa (Caturvargacintāmaṇi-Śrāddha, p. 1394).—‘On being asked what shall be done with the food left over, they shall say that it should be given to gentlemen.’

Devala and Kūrmapurāṇa (Do.).—‘Having washed his hands and sipped water, he shall feed his paternal relations with the remnants; and after the paternal relations have been satisfied, he shall feed his servants.’

Āditya-Purāṇa (Do.).—‘Sisters and relations should be entertained at Śrāddhas; the poverty-stricken, the meek, one with deficient limbs, one with redundant fingers, those whose birth has been fruitless, those disgusted and those struck by disease,—all these deserve to be fed. Bards and Māgadhas, charioteers, dancers and singers, those who have not got at the Śrāddha what they desired,—these people destroy all fame; therefore these also should be fed.’

Śātātapa (Do.).—‘What food is left over, he shall himself eat with the permission of the Brāhmaṇas,—along with his friends.’

Bhaviṣyottara (Do.).—‘With speech controlled, he shall eat the remnants, along with his friends.’

Padmapurāṇa (Do.).—‘Calm and quiet, he shall eat the remnant.’

Uśanas (Do.).—‘Permitted by them, he shall make over the remnant to his friends and eat it himself.’

Varāhapurāṇa (Do.).—‘He shall eat it, along with his relations and servants and also his friends and other relations.’

Matsyapurāṇa (Do.).—‘Then, at the end of the Vaiśvadeva-offering, along with his servants, sons and relations, and accompanied by guests, he shall eat all that had been offered to the Pitṛs.’