With a mind full of reverence, let us follow the sacred path of honoring the ancestors, as revealed in the scriptures. First, one should welcome the Brāhmaṇas with deep respect, washing their feet and greeting them repeatedly. They are to be seated properly upon darbha grass, just as the tradition prescribes. After sprinkling water, the host should invite the Brāhmaṇas to take their seats: for a rite dedicated to the gods, two Brāhmaṇas are required; for a rite for the ancestors, three—one for each, or both, as appropriate. Even a person of great status should not make the meal elaborate or ostentatious at this time. The wise host should first honor the Brāhmaṇas for the divine rite, offering them arghya and other respectful gestures. Once the Brāhmaṇas have granted their permission, the host should perform the fire ritual according to the rules of his own Gṛhya-sūtra, and then prepare the rice cake in a bronze vessel. A learned person should conduct the āpyāyana rite with Agni and Soma; or, if he maintains only a single sacred fire, he should perform the rite in the southern fire or after kindling it. Once the investiture with the sacred thread is complete, all the necessary sprinkling and related rituals should be performed, with the thread worn over the right shoulder. From the remaining oblation, the host should form six balls of food, offering water with sesame seeds using his left hand and the proper vessels for water. With care and a mind free from envy, he should place darbha grass to his left knee and draw the ritual lines, performing the sprinkling and cleansing as prescribed. Facing south, the host takes the ladle in hand and, one by one, places each ball of food upon the arranged darbha grasses. Then, upon the darbha grass, he should recite the names and lineages of the ancestors, touch the darbha, and wipe his hand for those entitled to the offering. In the same manner, he should perform the cleansing again, saluting the six seasons, and make appropriate offerings of fragrance, incense, and other items. Having invoked all these with the prescribed Vedic mantras, if there is only one sacred fire, there should be only one offering and one ladle used. After this, he should give food to the wives on the kusa grass, and for the balls of food and similar offerings, he should perform the invocation and dismissal as required. He then takes portions from each ball of food in order and gives them with care to the Brāhmaṇas first. Because the portions are taken from the food and the twice-born eat them, this is called 'anvāhārya,' and it should be performed during the waning of the moon. First, he places water with sesame and a purification ring in the hands of the Brāhmaṇas, offering the tip of the ball of food with the words, "May this be for their satisfaction." Throughout the offering, he should serve pure and sweet food, avoiding those prone to anger, and always remembering Nārāyaṇa, Hari. Once he knows that the Brāhmaṇas are satisfied, he scatters food for all classes, and after taking up the food with water, he pours the water onto the ground. At the end of the meal, he offers water again, this time with flowers and rice grains, reciting words of blessing and gathering all this over the balls of food. The rite should be performed from the beginning, honoring the gods to the very end; otherwise, the śrāddha is lost. Having dismissed the Brāhmaṇas, the host circumambulates them respectfully. Turning his mind to the southern direction, the host prays to the ancestors: "May our givers prosper, and may the Vedas and our lineage continue. May our faith never fail, may we have much to give, may we have abundant food, and may we always receive guests. May there be those who ask from us, but let us not have to ask from anyone." This is declared to be the rule for the food offered to the ancestors on the Parvan day. Just as at the waning of the moon, so also at other times, it is stated that one may offer the balls of food to cows, Brāhmaṇas, into fire, or even into water. Or, in the presence of Brāhmaṇas, one may scatter them and, with words of blessing, offer them with respect; the wife, with humility, should partake of the middle ball. It is here that the ancestors place the seed, which increases the lineage; the remnants should remain until the Brāhmaṇas have departed. After completing the rites for the ancestors, the host should perform the Vaiśvadeva offering. Having done so, together with the invited guests, he should peacefully partake of the food offered to the ancestors. One should avoid eating again, traveling, exertion, sexual union, or participating in another śrāddha on the same day. All these must be refrained from. One should also avoid study, quarrels, and sleeping during the day. Having dismissed the Brāhmaṇas as prescribed, the śrāddha offering is completed. 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. Now, hear what Lord Viṣṇu himself has spoken—the śrāddha called 'universal,' which bestows both enjoyment and liberation. This śrāddha is to be performed at the solstices and equinoxes, in the dual months, at the general solar transitions, on the new moon, on the aṣṭakā, and on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight. It is also to be performed on the days of Ārdrā, Maghā, and Rohiṇī, when suitable offerings and Brāhmaṇas are present, at the time of the elephant’s shadow, at Vyatīpāta, and on the days of Viṣṭi and Vaidhṛti. On the third day of Vaiśākha, the ninth of Kārttika, the fifteenth of Māgha and Nabhasya, and the thirteenth as well—these are remembered as the beginnings of the yugas. Offerings made at these times are said to yield inexhaustible results. Likewise, at the beginning of a manvantara, the wise should offer śrāddha. Further, on the ninth day of the bright half of Āśvayuja, the twelfth of Kārttika, the third of Caitra, and also in Bhādrapada; on the new moon of Phālguna, the eleventh of Pauṣa, the tenth of Āṣāḍha, and the seventh of Māgha; on the eighth of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, the full moon of Āṣāḍha, the full moon of Kārttika, Phālguna, Caitra, and the fifteenth of the bright half of Jyeṣṭha—these, and the beginnings of manvantaras, are said to yield inexhaustible results for offerings made. On that day at the beginning of a manvantara when the Sun sits in his chariot, on the seventh of Māgha, that is called the chariot-seventh, or ratha-saptamī. On this day, with devotion, one should offer water mixed with sesame to the ancestors. By this śrāddha, a thousand years of merit is obtained—this secret is spoken by the ancestors themselves. Thus, the sacred tradition is preserved, and the blessings of the ancestors and the gods flow unendingly to those who perform these rites with faith and devotion.