[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v5.c73.68 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.68 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.68 - **Language:** English ### [v5.c73.68](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73.68) In the post-vedic Literature, Pāṇini explains the forms 'śrāddhin' and 'śrāddhika' in V. 2 85, in the sense of 'one who has eaten a śrāddha dinner' The word 'śrāddha' may be derived from śraddhā according to Pān. V. 1. 109⁷⁹⁵. Śraddhā is variously defined In the \*bhāṣya\* on Yogasūtra I 20, 'śraddhā' is defined as the composure of the mind⁷⁹⁶ (or mental approval). Devala defines śraddhā: 'confidence (in the efficacy) of religious acts is called śraddhā, one who has no faith has no reason (or motive) for engaging in religious acts'⁷⁹⁷. The Śrāddhasūtra⁷⁹⁸ of Kātyāyana prescribes 'one endowed with śraddhā should offer śrāddha even with vegetables (if nothing else is available)'. Vide Manu III. 275 which emphasizes śraddhā for the gratification of pitṛs The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (29. 27) emphasizes⁷⁹⁹ the relation of śrāddha to śraddhā and states that what is offered at śrāddhas becomes transformed into that kind of food for the use of the pitṛs who require food in the new bodies they might have assumed according to the doctrine of \*karma\* and \*punarjanma\* and it also remarks that śrāddha offered with wealth acquired in an improper or unjust way is a means of gratification to the pitṛs that are born as cāṇḍālas, pukkasas and similar very low grades of people. - [Previous: v5.c73.67](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73.67) - [Next: v5.c73.69](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73.69) - [Up: v5.c73](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73) ## Linked texts (5) - [Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.29.27) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Aṣṭādhyāyī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.vyakarana.astadhyayi.5.2.85) — Pāṇini, Sanskrit - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu.3.275) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Yogasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darsana.yoga.yogasutra.1.20) — Patañjali (author of the Yogasūtra), Sanskrit - [Devalasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.upasmrti.devala) — Devala, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73.68](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v5.c73.68) · Pramāṇa