History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.10

v5.c73.t1.10

The next important question is about the qualifications of the brāhmaṇas that were invited to dinner on a śrāddha day. Only brāhmaṇas were and are entitled to be invited for śrāddha dinner whoever may be the performer of the śrāddha. In this connection many works contain high eulogies of brāhmaṇas, but they are passed over here, as the eulogy of brāhmaṇas has been already dealt with at some length in H. of Dh vol. II. pp. 37-38, 135-138. It may be noted that the gṛhyasūtras contain a few requirements, but as we proceed the smṛtis and purāṇas go on adding qualifications and enlarging the lists of those that should not be invited. For example, the Āśv. Gṛ IV. 7. 2, Śāṅ.-Gṛ. IV. 1. 2. Āp. Gṛ VIII. 21. 2, Āp. Dh. S. II. 7. 17 4, Hira. Gṛ II. 10. 2, Baud. Gṛ. II. 10. 5-6 and II 8. 2-3, Gaut. 15. 9 provide that the *brāhmaṇas* to be invited should be possessed of Vedic learning, should be of excellent character (free from anger and passion and possessed of control of mind and senses) and of meritorious conduct, pure, not deficient in a limb or not having an excessive limb (e. g. having six fingers). The Āp. Dh S states that he who has studied the three Vedic verses in which the word 'madhu' occurs (Ṛg I. 90. 6-8, Vāj. S 13 27-29, Tai. S. IV. 2. 9 3), he who has studied the Trisuparṇa, one who is a Trinācīketa, one who has studied the mantras required for the four sacrifices (Aśvamedha, Puruṣamedha, Sarvamedha and Pitṛmedha) or who has performed these four sacrifices, one who keeps the five fires, he who knows the Sāman called Jyeṣṭha, he who carries out the duty of daily Vedic study, the son of one