They had all come seeking refuge—together with Soma, they approached me for shelter. When Brahmā, the Supreme and Highest Lord, spoke thus, the scene unfolded before him. There, he beheld the Lord, whose very form was fashioned from the limbs of Yoga and the Vedas, radiant and divine. These beings, O Brahman, were created by Viṣṇu himself, through his wondrous Vaiṣṇava Māyā. My own father, the divine Brahmā, was shaped from my own body, as was my great-grandfather, Rudra Deva. Both were brought forth for the welfare of the Brāhmaṇas, by the power of Viṣṇu’s Māyā. If, O Brahman, they have come for refuge together with Soma, listen as I declare this truth to you, Grandfather of the worlds. At a śrāddha ceremony, the first portion of the offering must be given to him—whether among men or in the ritual itself. Thus instructed by the Lord, Brahmā, born from the lotus, responded. He turned to the fire blazing with radiance, Agni—the all-consuming eater of offerings—and addressed him: “Listen, O eater of offerings. When you have consumed the offering, the deities, together with the Maruts, will partake of it as well. Thereafter, what remains—the offered cake—is eaten together with Soma.” Having received their share, the deities, along with Soma, departed, O Earth. Therefore, O Earth, the first śrāddha should always be given to Agni. Afterwards, cakes should be offered, having spread darbha grass on the ground, to the Grandsire and to the portion born of Rudra. Men should perform the śrāddha rite with the prescribed mantras and proper procedure. Know that the śrāddha performed by the twice-born is accomplished solely by the power of my Māyā. However, certain people are to be avoided at these sacred offerings: eunuchs, painters, those who revile the protectors of wealth, dancers, singers, and those who make their living from the stage; those who serve kings, buyers and sellers in trade, those who act without proper rites, and those who live by the work of śūdras. Also to be avoided are the initiated who carry pigs, twice-born barbers, thieves, scribes, priests-for-hire, laborers, and all who sell various goods; those who have traveled far and those who make their living by such work. When the time for śrāddha comes, the wise recognize such persons as rājasa, or impure. O Mādhavi, one should not even see these persons at offerings made to the ancestors. If such a person is present, the ancestors of the host suffer terrible pain for six months. In the ritual, one should offer what is held into the fire and gaze upon the sun. Fragrance, flowers, incense, arghya, and water with sesame seeds should be given. Listen again, O beautiful Mādhavi, as I reveal another truth. Those who never partake of food offered to the dead, O Mādhavi, and twice-born men who do accept such food, are worthy to perform the śrāddha. But one who, out of hypocrisy, leaves remnants after eating is surely destined for hell. In the month of Māgha, on the twelfth day, one should offer rice cooked with ghee. And, desiring self-purification, one should give a tawny cow along with her calf as a gift.