Manava Dharmashastra 3.177

3.177

uktā yādṛśā brāhmaṇā bhojanīyāḥ | idānīmanyetikartavyatocyate | pūrvedyuryadahaḥ śrāddhaṃ kartavyam amāvāsyāyāṃ trayodaśyāṃ vā, tataḥ pūrvasminnahani caturdaśyāṃ dvādaśyāṃ vā, śvaḥ śrāddhe kartavye brāhmaṇānnimantrayet | aparedyustadahareva vā| vikalpaścātra niyamāpekṣaḥ | yaḥ śaknoti niyamānpālayituṃ sa pūrvedyuḥ, aśaktastadahareva | adhikaniyamānupālanācca mahāphalam | nimantraṇe kartavye adhyeṣaṇāpūrvakam vyāpārakhyamabhyupagamanaṃ ca | trayo'varā yeṣāṃ te tryavarāḥ | yadyatyantaṃ nyūnāstadā trayaḥ | śaktau tvayujo yathotsāhamityuktam | avaśiṣṭaḥ padasaṃghātaḥ ślokapūraṇārthaḥ | upasthite prāpto | yathoditān yathoktān |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
It has been explained what sort of Brāhmaṇas should be fed; now the author proceeds to describe other details of procedure.

‘On the preceding day’—on the day preceding the one on which the śrāddha is to be performed; i.e., if the performance falls on the Amāvāsyā or the Trayodaśī, then on Caturdaśī or Dvādaśī, respectively;—i.e., when one is going to perform the Śrāddha to-morrow, one should invite the Brāhmaṇas to-day.

‘On the next day’—i.e., on the same day as the performance.

The option here laid down is in consideration of the rules: if one is able to follow the rules closely, then one should do the inviting on the previous day; but if one is unable to do so, then one may do it on the same day. There is no doubt, however, that a strict observance of the rules would bring great rewards.

When the invitation is made, the inviter is to be approached and urged with entreaties.

Those of whom three is the least number,—this is what is meant by ‘at least three.’ That is, the least number that should be fed is three; in the event of his being able to feed more, ‘he should feed an odd number, according to his enthusiasm,’—as has already been prescribed above.

The rest of the words are meant only to fill up the verse.

‘Approached,’— arrived.

‘Such as has been described,’—i.e., mentioned above—(187)