Matsyapurana 20.5

20.5

gargādeśādvane dogdhrīṃ rakṣantaste tapodhanāḥ
khādāmaḥ kapilāmetāṃ vayaṃ kṣutpīḍitā bhṛśam //

After the death of their father the land was visited with a terrible famine when a large number of people were ruined owing to the cessation of rain and many died of starvation. In those days the seven sons of Kauśika used to look after the cow of Garga and were residing in a forest. One day not getting anything to eat they felt fearfully oppressed with the pangs of hunger. In those circumstances they resolved saying we shall eat the cow to appease our hunger. At that stage the youngest of them all, said to his brothers:—"If this cow must be killed, let us sacrifice her to our pitṛis in Śrâddha for the cow sacrificed with that view would decidedly save us from all sin." "Do so" said the other brothers to Pitṛivarti. The cow was sacrificed and Pitṛivarti performed the śrâddha with great devotion. Two brothers officiated for the Brâhmaṇas invited to Viśvedeva rite, the rest three similarly officiated for the Brâhmaṇas, invited to take part in the Pitṛi-karma and the seventh one represented the Atithi. In this way they all after performing the śrâddha with due Mantras and Meditating on Pitṛis feasted on the sacrificed cow.—4-9.