Shloka 22

Āvāhāryaka-Śrāddha: Qualifications of Recipients, Paṅkti-Pāvana, and Exclusions

Devanagari script

मातामहं मातुलं च स्वस्त्रीयं श्वशुरं गुरुम् / दौहित्रं विट्पतिं बन्धुमृत्विग्याज्यौ च भोजयेत्

Transliteration

mātāmahaṃ mātulaṃ ca svastrīyaṃ śvaśuraṃ gurum / dauhitraṃ viṭpatiṃ bandhumṛtvigyājyau ca bhojayet

Translation

Bei der śrāddha-Feier soll man eine Mahlzeit darbringen: dem Großvater mütterlicherseits, dem Onkel mütterlicherseits, dem Sohn der Schwester, dem Schwiegervater, dem Lehrer (guru), dem Sohn der Tochter, dem Vorsteher der Gemeinschaft, einem Verwandten sowie auch dem zelebrierenden Priester (ṛtvij) und demjenigen, für den das Ritual vollzogen wird (yājya).

Word by Word

• मातामहम्: maternal grandfather
• मातामहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मातुलम्: maternal uncle
• मातुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• स्वस्त्रीयम्: sister’s son (kinsman)
• स्वस्त्रीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + स्त्रीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य स्त्रीयः = sister’s son/kinsman)

• श्वशुरम्: father-in-law
• श्वशुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दौहित्रम्: daughter’s son
• दौहित्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विट्पतिम्: chief of the Viṭs (community leader)
• विट्पतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विट् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विटां पति:)

• बन्धुम्: kinsman
• बन्धुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋत्विक्: officiating priest
• ऋत्विक्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (द्वन्द्व-समासे पूर्वपद); रूपम् ‘ऋत्विक्’ (प्रातिपदिक-प्रयोग)

• याज्यौ: the sacrificer (patron)
• याज्यौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘ऋत्विक्’ इत्यनेन सह द्वन्द्वार्थः (ऋत्विग्-याज्यौ = priest and the one for whom sacrifice is performed)

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying dharma-instructions as taught in the Kurma Purana’s śrāddha context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Ṛtvij (priest)
• Yajamāna (rite-performer)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

This verse does not directly teach ātma-tattva; it frames dharma through śrāddha—service, gratitude, and right conduct—which the Purana presents as supportive disciplines (anukūla-sādhana) for inner purification leading toward higher knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is stated; the practice emphasized is karma-yoga in a dharmic form—performing śrāddha with proper recipients—cultivating śauca (purity), niyama (discipline), and reverence that the Kurma Purana treats as preparatory to deeper yoga and devotion.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where devotion and yoga are grounded in dharma—ritual duty and ethical order—rather than sectarian opposition.