Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अक्रोधनैः शौचपरैः सततं ब्रह्मचारिभिः भवितव्यं भवद्भिश्च मया च श्राद्धकारिणा //

Transliteration

akrodhanaiḥ śaucaparaiḥ satataṃ brahmacāribhiḥ bhavitavyaṃ bhavadbhiśca mayā ca śrāddhakāriṇā //

Translation

ينبغي لمن يُقيمُ الشِّرادها (śrāddha) أن يكون دائمًا غيرَ غضوب، مُلازمًا للطهارة، ثابتًا على البراهماجاريا (العفّة والانضباط)؛ هكذا ينبغي أن تكونوا، وهكذا أكون أنا أيضًا بوصفي مُجريَ طقسِ الأسلاف.

Word by Word

• अक्रोधनैः (akrodhanaiḥ): by those free from anger

• शौचपरैः (śaucaparaiḥ): devoted to cleanliness/purity

• सततम् (satataṃ): always, continually

• ब्रह्मचारिभिः (brahmacāribhiḥ): by those practicing brahmacarya/continence

• भवितव्यम् (bhavitavyam): it should be so, one must be

• भवद्भिः (bhavadbhiḥ): by you (plural/with you)

• च (ca): and

• मया (mayā): by me

• च (ca): also

• श्राद्धकारिणा (śrāddhakāriṇā): by the performer of śrāddha/ancestral offering

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, on proper śrāddha conduct)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Dharma
• Ācāra
• Purity
• Brahmacarya

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about pralaya; it lays down ethical and bodily discipline (angerlessness, purity, continence) required for performing śrāddha effectively.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames śrāddha as a dharmic duty requiring self-restraint: a householder (and even a ruler) must control anger, maintain ritual cleanliness, and observe brahmacarya during the rite to honor ancestors and sustain social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual-ethical rather than architectural: the performer’s inner state and external purity are treated as prerequisites for śrāddha, implying that correct conduct is as essential as correct offerings.