Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

शीलवृत्तगुणोपेतान् वयोरूपसमन्वितान् द्वौ दैवे त्रींस्तथा पित्र्य एकैकमुभयत्र वा //

Transliteration

śīlavṛttaguṇopetān vayorūpasamanvitān dvau daive trīṃstathā pitrya ekaikamubhayatra vā //

Translation

Man soll (Brāhmaṇas) auswählen, die mit gutem Wandel, rechter Lebensführung und Tugenden ausgestattet sind und zudem ein angemessenes Alter und Erscheinungsbild besitzen: zwei für die Darbringung an die Götter, drei für die Darbringung an die Ahnen; oder je einen für beide Riten, oder einen einzigen für beides.

Word by Word

• शील (śīla): good character

• वृत्त (vṛtta): proper conduct/livelihood

• गुणोपेतान् (guṇopetān): endowed with virtues

• वयः (vayaḥ): age

• रूप (rūpa): appearance

• समन्वितान् (samanvitān): possessed of/qualified with

• द्वौ (dvau): two

• दैवे (daive): in the rite for the gods (daiva-kārya)

• त्रीन् (trīn): three

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• पित्र्ये (pitrye): in the rite for the ancestors (pitṛ-kārya)

• एकैकम् (ekaikam): one each

• उभयत्र (ubhayatra): in both (rites)

• वा (vā): or.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, dharma/ritual discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Devas (Gods)

Tags

• Shraddha
• Pitru-karya
• Daiva-karya
• Dharma
• Brahmana-qualification

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual procedure—specifically, the proper selection and number of qualified invitees for daiva and pitṛ offerings.

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

It outlines a householder’s (and by extension a king’s) dharmic duty to perform śrāddha and related offerings correctly—honoring gods and ancestors by inviting morally qualified Brahmanas in the prescribed number.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it prescribes the qualifications (character, conduct, virtues, suitable age/appearance) and the count—two for daiva-kārya, three for pitṛ-kārya, or one each when combining.