Manava Dharmashastra 3.271

3.271

pūrvoktena vidhinā itikartavyatākalāpena pūrvedyurnimantraṇādibhiḥ saṃvatsarasya triḥśrāddhaṃ kurvīta | keṣu māseṣvityata āha hemantagrīṣmavarṣāsu | māsānumāsikamityasya triḥ saṃvatsaravidhirvaikalpikaḥ | pāñcayājñikaḥ pañcamahāyajñamadhye yaḥ paṭhitaḥ sonvahaṃ kartavyaḥ | asya ca prācīnāvītyapasavyodaṅmukhabrāhmaṇa bhojana mityetāvatyevetikartavyatā | evamarthameva punarupanyāsaḥ | evaṃ triḥsaṃvatsaravidhiranāhitāgnerityevaṃ pūrve vyācakṣate, pramāṇaṃ tu ta evaṃ vidanti |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
In accordance with the rules laid down here—i.e., following the procedure, beginning with inviting the Brāhmaṇas on the previous day, and ending with performing the Śrāddha thrice in the year—one should offer the Śrāddha—in what months ?—‘during winter, summer and the rains.’

What is said here regarding the Śrāddha to be offered ‘thrice in the year’ is to be regarded as optional with what has been said above (122) regarding its being offered ‘month after month.’

‘That which forms part of the Five Sacrifices’—that which has been prescribed among the ‘Five Sacrifices’—should be performed every day.

In connection with this last, the only procedure to be adopted consists in—(a) wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, (b) making offerings from left to right, and (c) feeding the Brāhmaṇas with face towards the north. That is why it has been re-mentioned here.

It is in view of this text that older people have explained that the rule regarding the offering of Śrāddha thrice in the year is meant for one who has not set up the fire. But what authority they have for this, they alone know.—(281)