History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c24.s1.149

v2.c24.s1.149

Corresponding to the duty of the student to beg was the obligation cast on householders to serve food according to their ability to *brahmacārins* and *yatis* (ascetics). Gautama V. 16 prescribes that after performing the daily yajñas to gods (*vaiśvadeva*) and offering *bali* to bhūtas, the householder should offer alms (of food) preceded by the word 'svasti' and by water. Manu III. 94, Yāj. I. 108 and others say that alms should be given to ascetics and brahmacārins with honour and welcome. The Mit. on Yāj. I. 108 says that alms should be ordinarily one morsel of food as large as the egg of a pea-hen and quotes a verse of Śātātapa⁷³⁵ saying that 'bhikṣā is as much as one morsel, that puṣkala is equal to four morsels, hanta is equal to four puṣkalas and agra is equal to three *hantas.*'