Text 7]
The Downfall of Saubhari Muni
181
TRANSLATION
During the months of January, February and March, oblations offered to the forefathers are called aṣṭakā-śrāddha. The śrāddha ceremony is held during the dark fortnight of the month. When Mahārāja Ikṣvāku was performing his oblations in this ceremony, he ordered his son Vikukṣi to go immediately to the forest to bring some pure flesh.
TEXT 7
तथेति स वनं गत्वा मृगान् हत्वा क्रियार्हणान् । 
  श्रान्तो बुभुक्षितो वीरः शशं चाददपस्मृतिः ॥ ७ ॥
tatheti sa vanam gatvā 
  mṛgān hatvā kriyārhaṇān 
  śrānto bubhukṣito vīraḥ 
  śaśam cādad apasmṛtiḥ
tathā—according to the direction; iti—thus; saḥ—Vikukṣi; vanam—to the forest; gatvā—going; mṛgān—animals; hatvā—killing; kriyā-arhaṇān—suitable for offering to the yajña in the śrāddha ceremony; śrāntaḥ—when he was fatigued; bubhukṣitaḥ—and hungry; vīraḥ—the hero; śaśam—a rabbit; ca—also; ādat—he ate; apasmṛtiḥ—forgetting (that the flesh was meant for offering in the śrāddha).
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Ikṣvāku's son Vikukṣi went to the forest and killed many animals suitable for being offered as oblations. But when fatigued and hungry he became forgetful and ate a rabbit he had killed.
PURPORT
It is evident that  kṣatriyas  killed animals in the forest because the flesh of the animals was suitable to be offered at a particular type of  yajña . Offering oblations to the forefathers in the ceremony known as  śrāddha  is also a kind of  yajña . In this  yajña , flesh obtained from the