Manava Dharmashastra 3.254

3.254

piṇḍeṣu pratipāditeṣu tau hastau prakṣālayet | tataḥ ācamanavidhiṃ kuryāt | jñātīn prati gacchati prāpnotīti jñātiprāyaṃ kuryāt | jñātibhyo dadyāt | tebhyaḥ satkṛtaṃ datvā bāndhavebhyo'pi dadyāt | 'jñātayaḥ' sagotrāḥ, mātṛśvaśurapakṣā 'bāndhavāḥ' | atra codyate- "yadukaṃ 'yathā brūyustathā kuryāditi' | yadi tairūktaṃ 'gṛhānasmadīyāne tadannaṃ prāpyatāmiti,' tadā vaiśvadevahomādīnāṃ kā gatiḥ" | pākāntaraṃ kartavyam | athavā'dṛṣṭārthamevānnaśeṣanivedanaṃ nityavadāmnāyate | śeṣamannamityukte iṣṭebhya iti brūyuriti, pākṣikaṃ caitatsyādyadi te gṛhṇīyuḥ |

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)