the
Brahmanas. Those men should never be fed on occasions of Sraddhas who
speak ill of Brahmanas in course of conversation in the midst of
assemblies. If Brahmanas, O king, be calumniated, they would destroy
three generations of the calumniator.[410] This is the declaration, O
king, of the Vaikhanasa Rishis. Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas
should be examined from a distance. Whether one likes them or feels a
dislike for them, one should give unto such Brahmanas the offerings made
at Sraddhas. That man who feeds thousands upon thousands of false
Brahmanas acquires merit that is attainable by feeding even one Brahmana
if the latter happens to be possessed of a knowledge of the Vedas, O
Bharata!"'"

SECTION XCI

"'Yudhishthira said, "By whom was the Sraddha first conceived and at what
time? What also is its essence? During the time when the world was
peopled by only the descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, who was the muni
that established the Sraddha? What acts should not be done at Sraddha?
What are those Sraddhas in which fruits and roots are to be offered? What
species also of paddy should be avoided in Sraddhas? Do thou tell me all
this, O grandsire!"

"'Bhishma said, "Listen to me, O ruler of men, as I tell thee how the
Sraddha was introduced, the time of such introduction, the essences of
the rite, and the Muni who conceived it. From the Self-born Brahman
sprang Atri, O thou of Kuru's race. In Atri's race was born a Muni of the
name of Dattatreya. Dattatreya got a son of the name of Nimi possessed of
wealth of asceticism. Nimi got a son named Srimat who was endued with
great beauty of person. Upon the expiration of a full thousand years,
Srimat, having undergone the severest austerities, succumbed to the
influence of Time and departed from this world. His sire Nimi, having
performed the Purificatory rites according to the ritual laid down in the
ordinance, became filled with great grief, thinking continually of the
loss of his son.[411] Thinking of that cause of sorrow the high-souled
Nimi collected together various agreeable objects (of food and drink) on
the fourteenth day of the moon. The next morning he rose from bed. Pained
his heart was with grief, as he rose from sleep that day--he succeeded in
withdrawing it from the one object upon which it had been working. His
understanding succeeded in busying itself with other matters. With
concentrated attention he then conceived the idea of a Sraddha. All th