FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.3

द्वौ दैवे पितृकार्ये त्रीनेकैकमुभयत्र वा । भोजयेत्सुसमृद्धोऽपि श्राद्धे कुर्यान्न विस्तरम् ॥ ३ ॥
dvau daive pitṛ-kārye trīn
[dvau daive pitri-kaarye treen]
ekaikam ubhayatra vā
[ekaikam ubhayatra vaa]
bhojayet susamṛddho ’pi
[bhojayet susamriddho ’pi]
śrāddhe kuryān na vistaram
[shraaddhe kuryaan na vistaram]
Word-for-word
dvau — two daive — during the period when oblations are offered to the demigods pitṛ-kārye — in the śrāddha ceremony, in which oblations are offered to the forefathers trīn — three eka — one ekam — one ubhayatra — for both occasions vā — either bhojayet — one should feed su-samṛddhaḥ api — even though one is very rich śrāddhe — when offering oblations to the forefathers kuryāt — one should do na — not vistaram — very expensive arrangements.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dvau daive pitṛ-kārye trīn
dvau
two
daive
during the period when oblations are offered to the demigods
pitṛ-kārye
in the śrāddha ceremony, in which oblations are offered to the forefathers
trīn
three
ekaikam ubhayatra vā
eka
one
bhojayet susamṛddho ’pi
śrāddhe kuryān na vistaram
ekam
one
ubhayatra
for both occasions
vā
either
bhojayet
one should feed
su-samṛddhaḥ api
even though one is very rich
śrāddhe
when offering oblations to the forefathers
kuryāt
one should do
na
not
vistaram
very expensive arrangements.
During the period for offering oblations to the demigods, one should invite only two brāhmaṇas, and while offering oblations to the forefathers, one may invite three brāhmaṇas. Or, in either case, only one brāhmaṇa will suffice. Even though one is very opulent, he should not endeavor to invite more brāhmaṇas or make various expensive arrangements on those occasions.
Purport

As we have already mentioned, Śrīla Advaita Ācārya, during the generally observed ceremony to offer oblations to the forefathers, invited only Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Thus He followed this principle: na me ’bhaktaś catur-vedī mad-bhaktaḥ śva-pacaḥ priyaḥ. The Lord says, “It is not necessary that one become very expert in Vedic knowledge before he can become My bhakta, or devotee. Even if one is born in a family of dog-eaters, he can become My devotee and be very dear to Me, in spite of having taken birth in such a family. Therefore, offerings should be given to My devotee, and whatever My devotee has offered Me should be accepted.” Following this principle, one should invite a first-class brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava — a realized soul — and feed him while observing the śrāddha ceremony to offer oblations to one’s forefathers.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In offering oblations to the devatās, one should invite only two brāhmaṇas, and in offering oblations to the forefathers, one may invite three brāhmaṇas. Or, in either case, only one brāhmaṇa will also suffice. Even though one is wealthy, he should not endeavor to invite more brāhmaṇas. Vistaram means “many recipients.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Invite only two brāhmaṇas for demigod oblations and three for ancestral ones — even one is enough. Quality of guest, not quantity, makes a ceremony auspicious. Resist the social pressure to make spiritual occasions into displays of largess.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you confuse the scale of a ceremony with its depth?
  • What would simplicity look like in the rituals you currently inflate?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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