Aurva, the revered sage, addressed the king, saying, “O King, what I have spoken has been sung by the ancestors themselves. It concerns what is to be done in times of prosperity and adversity. Whoever follows these instructions fulfills the śrāddha rite, bringing satisfaction to their forebears.” He continued, “At the śrāddha, one should feed Brahmins. Let me tell you about the qualities these Brahmins should possess. The ideal Brahmin is one who knows the three sacred fires, the threefold honey, and the three Suparṇas; who is learned in the six limbs of the Veda; a knower of the Veda, a Śrotriya, a yogin, and the eldest Sāmagā. Also fit are the priest, the maternal uncle, the daughter’s son, the son-in-law, the father-in-law, one devoted to austerity, one engaged in the five fires, disciples, relatives, and one devoted to mother and father.” Aurva explained that these individuals should be engaged in the śrāddha first, and then other Brahmins in proper order, so as to bring satisfaction to the ancestors. However, he warned against inviting certain people: those who are hostile to friends, have deformed nails, are impotent, have black teeth, a Brahmin who has violated a maiden, one who has abandoned the sacred fire, or who sells Soma; those who are cursed, thieves, slanderers, village priests, those who teach or learn for hire; one who has married another’s former wife, who has abandoned his mother or father, who supports or marries a Śūdra woman, or is her husband; and likewise, a temple priest. None of these are fit to be invited to a śrāddha. On the first day, Aurva said, the wise should invite those who are praiseworthy, such as Śrotriyas, and inform them of the duties to be performed for the ancestors and the gods. After this, the sacrificer must refrain from anger, sexual activity, or exertion with those Brahmins, for a great fault arises from such actions. If a Brahmin appointed at a śrāddha, whether after eating, feeding, or appointing others, engages in sexual intercourse, he plunges his ancestors into the pit of semen. Therefore, Aurva emphasized, the invitation of the foremost twice-born should be performed first. Without inviting the twice-born, one should not feed ascetics who may arrive. The twice-born who come to the house should be honored with foot-washing and other rites. With pure hands, after they have rinsed their mouths, they should be seated on proper seats; the pairs of ancestors without obstacles, the gods, and the twice-born should be honored according to one’s wish. The gods and ancestors should be assigned, either individually or one by one. Similarly, the maternal grandfather’s śrāddha should be performed, accompanied by the Vaiśvadeva rite, with devotion and completeness, or according to the Vaiśvadeva ritual. The Brahmins should be fed facing east, as they embody the gods, while the ancestors and maternal grandfathers should be fed facing north. Aurva noted that some say these rites should be performed separately for the śrāddha, while others, the great sages, declare that they may be done together with one cooking. For the purpose of the seat, a blade of kuśa grass should be offered, and proper honor given with water for washing. The wise should perform the invocation of the gods with their permission. The one who knows the rite should give arghya to the gods with barley-water, and offer garlands, fragrance, incense, and lamps as prescribed. For the ancestors, all this should be prepared in the left-handed manner; after obtaining their permission, darbha grass split in two should be given. With mantras, the wise should invoke the ancestors, offering arghya and other offerings with sesame-water in the left-handed manner. If, at that time, a guest arrives desiring food—a king or traveler—after being permitted by the Brahmins, one may also feed him as desired. Yogis, in various forms and benefactors of men, wander the earth with their true nature unknown. Therefore, the wise should honor a guest who arrives at the time of śrāddha, for a guest who is not honored destroys the fruit of the śrāddha rite. Food, except for condiments and salt, should be offered into the fire, permitted by those Brahmins, three times. First, the oblation should be given to Agni, the carrier of offerings, with the invocation ‘svāhā.’ Next, to Soma, who is associated with the ancestors. Then, a third oblation is given to Vaivasvata. The small amount of food remaining from the offering should be placed in vessels for the ancestors. A handful of food, well-prepared and desired, should then be given; after offering, one may speak as desired, but without harshness. This food should be enjoyed by those ascetics whose minds are tranquil, gentle, and serene; it should be given to them with devotion, self-control, and without anger. Protective mantras should be recited, sesame seeds spread on the ground, and then, O best of twice-born, one should meditate upon the ancestors. One should pray, “May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, abiding in the bodies of the Brahmins, attain satisfaction today. May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, whose forms are nourished by the oblation, attain satisfaction today. May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather attain satisfaction from the rice-ball I have offered upon the earth. May my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather attain satisfaction through my devotion, by this which I have declared. May my maternal grandfather, his father, and his father in turn attain satisfaction; may all the gods attain supreme satisfaction, and may the evil spirits be destroyed.” Aurva invoked the presence of Hari, the Lord of sacrifice, the enjoyer of all offerings, the imperishable Lord, saying, “By His presence, may all demons and asuras immediately depart from here.” When these rites are completed and satisfaction is attained, food should be scattered on the ground for the Brahmins, and water for sipping should be given to them again and again. When permitted by those who are fully satisfied with the food on the ground, one should then, with concentration, properly offer the rice-balls mixed with sesame, thus completing the śrāddha with reverence and fulfillment.