History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.66

v7.c91.66

Manu (III. 149) provides that 'in rites in honour of gods one who knows dharma should not critically examine the brāhmaṇas to be invited for dinner, but in a rite for ancestors one should carefully investigate (the fitness of) brāhmaṇas'. This does not mean that in rites for gods any one may be invited. We have to observe the general rule of Manu (III. 128) that donors should give only to a man who has studied the Veda dinner in rites for gods or pitṛs. So what Manu III. 149 means is that deep investigation of ancestry &c. is not necessary in rites for gods.