SB 7.15.4 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

देशकालोचितश्रद्धाद्रव्यपात्रार्हणानि च । सम्यग्भवन्ति नैतानि विस्तरात्स्वजनार्पणात् ॥ ४ ॥

Verse text

deśa-kālocita-śraddhā- dravya-pātrārhaṇāni ca samyag bhavanti naitāni vistarāt sva-janārpaṇāt

Synonyms

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 .

Translation

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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

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.

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.