History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1757

v6.c81.1757

*Bhīṣmāṣṭamī*—on M. śu. 8; offer water and śrāddha every year to Bhīṣma who died a bachelor, he who does so becomes free from sins committed in one year and secures progeny; HK 628-29, VKK 503, TT 58, NS 221, SM 61 One whose father is alive also can offer water to Bhīṣma (SM 61). This tithi is probably based on Anuśāsanaparva 167. 28 (Māghoyam samanuprāpto.. tribhāgaśeṣaḥ pakṣoyam śuklo bhavitumarhati). With great respect to Prof. P. C SenGupta I must say that his interpretation of 'samanuprāpta' as 'samanupraviṣṭa' is quite wrong and unwarranted and it is not possible to accept his conclusion that Bhīṣma died on 8th of dark half of Māgha and not on 8th of bright half. Vide his paper in JASB vol. XX No. 1 (*Letters*) pp 39-41 (1954). The Bhujabalanibandha p 364 has two verses, which are quoted in TT, NS and other works 'शुक्लाष्टम्यां तु माघस्य दद्याद् भीष्माय यो जलम्। संवत्सरकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥ वैयाघ्रपद्यगोत्राय सांकृतिप्रवराय च। अपुत्राय ददाम्येतत्सलिलं भीष्मवर्मणे ॥'. Even brāhmaṇas were called upon to offer water to the noble kṣatriya warrior Bhīṣma.