observant of the duties laid down in the scriptures, distinguished by purity of behaviour, is competent to rescue a whole race.[210] One should make gifts of kine and horses and wealth and food and other kinds of articles unto a Brahmana that is possessed of such qualifications.  By making such gifts unto such persons one earns great happiness in the next world.  As I have already told thee even one such Brahmana is fully competent to rescue the entire race to which the giver belongs.  What need I say, therefore, O dear son, of the merit of making gifts unto many Brahmanas of such qualifications?  In making gifts, therefore one should always select the object to whom the gifts are to be made.  Hearing of a Brahmana possessed of proper qualifications and regarded with respect by all good people, one should invite him even if he resides at a distance and welcome him when he arrives and one should worship him by all means in his power.’”

SECTION XXIII

“Yudhishthira said, ’I desire thee, O grandsire, to tell me what the ordinances are that have been laid down by the acts touching the deities and the (deceased) ancestors on occasions of Sraddhas.’

“Bhishma said, ’Having purified oneself (by baths and other purificatory acts) and then going through the well-known auspicious rites, one should carefully do all act relating to the deities in the forenoon, and all acts relating to the Pitris in the afternoon.  What is given to men should be given in the midday with affection and regard.  That gift which is made untimely is appropriated by Rakshasas.[211] Gifts of articles that have been leapt over by any one, o been licked or sucked, that are not given peacefully, that have been seen by women that are impure in consequence of their season having come, do not produce any merit.  Such gifts are regarded as the portion belonging to the Rakshasas.  Gifts of articles that have been proclaimed before many people or from which a portion has been eaten by a Sudra, or that have been seen or licked by a dog, form portions of Rakshasas.  Food which is mixed with hair or in which there are worms, or which has been stained with spittle or saliva or which has been gazed at by a dog or into which tear-drops have fallen or which has been trodden upon should be known as forming the portion of Rakshasa.  Food that has been eaten by a person incompetent to utter the syllable Om, or that has been eaten by a person bearing arms, O Bharata, or that has been eaten by a wicked person should be known to form the portion of Rakshasas.[212] The food that is eaten by a person from which a portion has already been eaten by another, or which is eaten without a part thereof having been offered to deities and guests and children, is appropriated by Rakshasas.  Such stained food, if offered to the deities and Pitris is never accepted by them but is appropriated by Rakshasas.  The food offered by the three regenerate classes in Sraddhas, in which