With devotion and reverence, the sacred rite of śrāddha begins. The performer, touching the right knee, gently invites the ancestors, saying, “You have been invited by me.” With this invitation, he announces the rules of the ceremony to the assembled relatives of the ancestors, ensuring all are aware of the sanctity and order to be maintained. He reminds both himself and any co-performer that, as those conducting the śrāddha, they must always remain free from anger, devoted to purity, and steadfast in celibacy throughout the ritual. It is only with such discipline that the offering can be truly effective. Having completed the ancestral offering called tarpaṇa, the householder who tends the sacred fire must perform the śrāddha with piṇḍas—balls of food—at the waning of the moon, for this is the ordained time. The place for the rite is carefully prepared: a spot is chosen, smeared with cow dung to purify it, sloping to the south, and it is best if this is in a cowshed or near water, both considered auspicious. With fire kindled, the performer makes the offerings—both the ancestral oblation and the rice cake—using equal handfuls, placing all to the south and proclaiming, “I offer this to the ancestors.” After sprinkling water for purification, he makes three elongated offerings in front, each four fingers wide. He prepares three ladles from khadira wood, their handles shaped like a hand, each the width of a finger, and adorned with silver, all well-smoothed for the sacred work. Alongside, he assembles a water vessel, a bronze vessel, a strainer, sacred sticks, sesame seeds, more vessels, clean garments, fragrant incense, and ointments—each item brought with care and reverence. With all these in his left hand, he approaches slowly from the south, placing them before the house. Once again, a spot is purified with cow dung and circled with cow urine. He worships this place with unbroken rice and flowers, using his left hand in the prescribed manner. With humility, he washes the feet of the Brāhmaṇas, greeting them repeatedly, and seats them upon darbha grass as tradition dictates. After sprinkling water, he invites them to take their places: for the divine rite, two Brāhmaṇas; for the ancestral rite, three—one for each aspect, or both as needed. Even if he is a lord, the meal should not be elaborate. The wise first assign the Brāhmaṇas for the divine rite, offering arghya and other customary gifts. With their permission, he proceeds to perform the fire ritual according to the rules of his own Gṛhya-sūtra, then prepares the rice cake in a bronze vessel. A learned performer conducts the āpyāyana rite with Agni and Soma; but if there is only one sacred fire, he performs the rite in the southern fire or after kindling a new one. When the sacred thread is invested, all sprinkling and related rites are performed with the thread over the right shoulder, as tradition prescribes. From the remainder of the oblation, he forms six piṇḍas—balls of food—and offers water with sesame seeds, using his left hand and vessels meant for this purpose. With care, he places darbha grass to his left knee, free from envy, and draws lines as prescribed, performing the necessary sprinkling and cleansing. Facing south, he places the ladle in his hand and, one by one, sets each ball of food on the arranged darbha grasses. On these, he recites the names and lineages of the ancestors, touching the darbhas and wiping his hand for those entitled to the offering. He then repeats the cleansing, salutes the six seasons, and offers fragrance, incense, and other appropriate offerings. All this is invoked with Vedic mantras as prescribed. For one with a single sacred fire, only one offering and one ladle are used. Having done so, he gives food to the wives, placing it on kusa grass, and for the balls of food and similar offerings, he performs both the invocation and the dismissal rites. Taking portions from the balls of food in order, he first gives these carefully to the Brāhmaṇas. Because these portions are taken from the food and eaten by the twice-born, this is known as 'anvāhārya', and it is properly performed at the waning of the moon. First, he places water with sesame and a purification ring in their hands, giving the tip of the ball of food and saying, “May this be for their satisfaction.” He serves pure and sweet food, avoiding those prone to anger, and keeps the remembrance of Nārāyaṇa, Hari, in his heart. Knowing the Brāhmaṇas are satisfied, he then scatters food for all classes and, after taking up the food with water, pours the water onto the ground. At the meal’s end, he again offers water with flowers and rice grains, reciting words of blessing, and gathers all this over the balls of food. The rite is performed from the gods to the end; if not, the śrāddha is lost. After dismissing the Brāhmaṇas, he circumambulates them as prescribed. Turning to the south, he prays to the ancestors: “May our givers prosper, and may the Vedas and our lineage continue. May our faith not fail; may we have much to give, abundant food, and may we obtain guests. Let there be those who ask from us, but let us not ask from anyone. This is the rule: thus, the food for the ancestors on the Parvan day is prescribed.” Just as at the waning of the moon, so also at other times: one should offer balls of food to cows, Brāhmaṇas, into fire, or even into water. Or, in the presence of Brāhmaṇas, one should scatter them, and with words of blessing, offer them respectfully; the wife, with humility, partakes of the middle ball. The ancestors place their seed here, which increases the lineage, and the remnants should remain until the Brāhmaṇas have departed. After the rites for the ancestors are complete, the Vaiśvadeva offering is performed. Having done so, together with the invited guests, the performer peacefully partakes of the food offered to the ancestors. He avoids eating again, traveling, exertion, sexual union, or participating in another śrāddha—all these are to be refrained from. He also avoids study, quarrels, and sleeping during the day. After dismissing the Brāhmaṇas according to the rule, he completes the śrāddha offering. Whenever, after the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, an offering is to be made in the dark fortnight, or when the sun is in Kanyā, Kumbha, or Vṛṣa, it should always be given with fire, according to this rule. Thus, the sacred śrāddha is fulfilled, in accordance with the ancient tradition.