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TIT, 132.
HOUSEHOLDER; SRÂDDHAS.
99
128. Oblations to the gods and manes must be presented by the givers to a Srotriya alone; what is given to such a most worthy Brâhmana yields great reward.
129. Let him feed even one learned man at (the sacrifice) to the gods, and one at the sacrifice) to the manes; (thus) he will gain a rich reward, not (if he entertains) many who are unacquainted with the Veda.
130. Let him make inquiries even regarding the remote (ancestors of) a Brâhmana who has studied an entire (recension of the) Veda; (if descended from a virtuous race) such a man is a worthy recipient of gifts (consisting) of food offered to the gods or to the manes, he is declared (to procure as great rewards as) a guest (atithi).
131. Though a million of men, unacquainted with the Rikas, were to dine at a (funeral sacrifice), yet a single man, learned in the Veda, who is satisfied (with his entertainment), is worth them all as far as the (production of) spiritual merit (is concerned).
132. Food sacred to the manes or to the gods must be given to a man distinguished by sacred
or in the house, i.e. to be performed by householders, not by men of other orders. Medh., too, mentions another reading, which he explains much in the same way as Gov., and which therefore may have been vidhih kshaye, though the MSS. read tithikshaye.
128. Vas. III, 8; Gaut. XV, 9.
130. Vi. LXXXII, 2. The examination must extend, as in the case of officiating priests, to ten ancestors on the mother's and the father's side (Medh., Gov.).
131. 'The Rikas,' i.e. the Veda.' Nár. reads instead of prîtah, who is satisfied,' yuktah, and combines it with dharmatah,' who is properly invited.' Nand. has viprah,'a Brâhmana,' for prîtah. K. has prima manu viprah, sec. manu yuktah,
H 2
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