The householder stage of life is described as the very foundation of dharma, for it is within this stage that righteousness is firmly established. On sacred lunar days and festival occasions, those who perform the proper rites truly uplift their ancestors. Remarkably, it is not through sacrifices, acts of charity, study of the scriptures, fasting, bathing at holy places, or even offerings into the sacred fire that this is most effectively accomplished. Even those ancestors who have attained the realms of Brahma and Vishnu, and have entered their divine bodies, are not sustained by these means alone. O Earth, in an unbroken succession, the ancestral deities have dwelled in these realms. Yet, even the gods, with Indra as their leader, remain unaware of this subtle truth. Nor does Brahma himself, who has arisen through my own power of māyā, comprehend it fully. Now, O beautiful one, let me speak further about the matter of ancestral sacrifices. When one resolves to make an offering and spreads darbha grass upon the ground as prescribed, there are times when the offerings do not nourish the ancestors as intended; instead, they suffer from indigestion and are left unsatisfied. Soma, beholding the plight of these ancestors—afflicted by indigestion caused by the deities—spoke compassionately to them. Hearing Soma’s words, the ancestors addressed him in turn, saying, “Let our words be heard.” Those who had been appointed at the śrāddha were finally satisfied by the ancestral offering. Soma then said, “Let us go together, so that what is best may be accomplished.” Thus addressed, the ancestral deities, together with Soma, set forth at that very moment. Upon seeing the divine Pitamaha, the grandsire Brahma, they quickly bowed down to the earth in reverence. They explained, “O god, we, your ancestors, are suffering from indigestion and distress. Just as food that is digested perishes, so do we, O Pitamaha.” Brahma, moved by their plight, spoke these words to the lord of yogis: “They have come here for refuge, together with Soma, seeking my protection.” Thus addressed by Brahma, the Supreme Lord, the Highest among the gods, appeared—his form fashioned from the limbs of Yoga and the Vedas. He revealed that these ancestors had been created by Vishnu, O Brahman, through his divine Vaiṣṇava Māyā. “My father, the divine Brahma, was fashioned from my own body,” he declared. “My great-grandfather, Rudra Deva, too, arose from me. For the welfare of the Brāhmaṇas, they were all created by Vishnu’s Māyā.” “If they have come for refuge together with Soma, O Brahman, listen now, Grandfather of the worlds, as I declare what must be done. At a śrāddha, the first portion of the offering must be given to him—Agni, or among men, to the representative of Agni.” Thus instructed by the Lord, Brahma, born from the lotus, addressed the fire, Agni, blazing with radiance—the all-consuming eater of offerings. “Listen, O eater of offerings,” Brahma said. “When you have consumed the offering, the deities, along with the Maruts, will partake of it. Afterwards, the cake that has been offered is eaten together with Soma.” With this arrangement, the deities, together with Soma, departed contentedly, O Earth. Therefore, O Earth, the first śrāddha should always be offered to Agni. Afterwards, one should offer the cakes, having spread darbha grass upon the ground, to the grandsire and to the middle portion born from Rudra. Men must perform the śrāddha rite with the proper mantras and prescribed procedures, thus ensuring that the ancestors are truly satisfied and dharma is upheld.