Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.4
देशकालोचितश्रद्धाद्रव्यपात्रार्हणानि च ।
सम्यग्भवन्ति नैतानि विस्तरात्स्वजनार्पणात् ॥ ४ ॥
deśa-kālocita-śraddhā-
[desha-kaalochita-shraddhaa-]
dravya-pātrārhaṇāni ca
[dravya-paatraarhanaani cha]
samyag bhavanti naitāni
[samyag bhavanti naitaani]
vistarāt sva-janārpaṇāt
[vistaraat sva-janaarpanaat]
Word-for-word
deśa
—
place
kāla
—
time
ucita
—
proper
śraddhā
—
respect
dravya
—
ingredients
pātra
—
a suitable person
arhaṇāni
—
paraphernalia for worship
ca
—
and
samyak
—
proper
bhavanti
—
are
na
—
not
etāni
—
all these
vistarāt
—
due to expansion
sva-jana-arpaṇāt
—
or due to inviting relatives.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
deśa-kālocita-śraddhā-
deśa
place
kāla
time
ucita
proper
śraddhā
respect
dravya-pātrārhaṇāni ca
dravya
ingredients
pātra
a suitable person
arhaṇāni
paraphernalia for worship
ca
and
samyag bhavanti naitāni
samyak
proper
bhavanti
are
na
not
etāni
all these
vistarāt sva-janārpaṇāt
vistarāt
due to expansion
sva-jana-arpaṇāt
or due to inviting relatives.
If one arranges to feed many brāhmaṇas or relatives during the śrāddha ceremony, there will be discrepancies in the time, place, respectability and ingredients, the person to be worshiped, and the method of offering worship.
Purport
Nārada Muni has prohibited unnecessarily gorgeous arrangements to feed relatives or brāhmaṇas during the śrāddha ceremony. Those who are materially opulent spend lavishly during this ceremony. Indians spend especially lavishly on three occasions — at the birth of a child, at marriage and while observing the śrāddha ceremony — but the śāstras prohibit the excessive expenditures involved in inviting many brāhmaṇas and relatives, especially during the śrāddha ceremony.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
If one arranges to feed many brāhmaṇas or relatives during the śrāddha ceremony, there will be discrepancies in the time, place, respect, eligible persons and ingredients.
If many relatives are invited, the respect to the Pitṛs will be overlooked.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Feeding crowds of relatives during śrāddha leads to discrepancies in time, place, ingredients, and proper worship. More guests can mean less actual remembrance of the forefathers. Sometimes generosity is just performance.
Reflection Questions
- Where is your hospitality crowding out the very purpose you are hosting for?
- Which 'small and sincere' would serve you better than 'large and impressive'?
My note
Source: vedabase.io