Shloka 25

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

प्रश्नश् च तत्राभिरतिर् यजमानद्विजन्मनाम् अक्षय्यम् अमुकस्येति वक्तव्यं विरतौ तथा

Transliteration

praśnaś ca tatrābhiratir yajamānadvijanmanām akṣayyam amukasyeti vaktavyaṃ viratau tathā

Translation

Dort ist die Frage zu stellen, und die zweimalgeborenen Priester sollen dem Opferherrn aufmerksam zugewandt bleiben. Und beim rechten Abschluss ist zu sprechen: „Möge dies für den und den unvergänglich sein“—so ist es auszusprechen, wenn das Ritual beendet wird.

Word by Word

प्रश्नःa question

चand

तत्रthere

अभिरतिःattention/engagement

यजमान-द्विजन्मनाम्of the sacrificer(s) and the twice-born

अक्षय्यम्imperishable (undiminishing merit)

अमुकस्यof so-and-so

इतिthus/“…”

वक्तव्यम्should be said

विरतौat the conclusion/when stopping

तथाlikewise

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Concluding formulae and priestly attentiveness in Ekoddiṣṭa: the formal question and the 'akṣayya' declaration for the named departed

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: ritually meticulous

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha concludes with formal inquiry and attentive priestly participation, ending in the utterance that the fruit be ‘imperishable’ for the named departed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: End rites and commitments with clear intention and dedication—name the beneficiary, and complete actions mindfully rather than casually.

Vishishtadvaita: The ‘akṣayya’ intention reflects enduring merit within the Lord’s moral order; personal dedication (saṅkalpa) aligns finite acts with lasting spiritual purpose.

Characters & Entities

Yajamāna

Dvija (twice-born priests)

FAQs

What is the significance of declaring 'akṣayyaṃ amukasya' in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the formal dedication of the rite’s spiritual fruit as “imperishable” and assigns it to a specific beneficiary, ensuring the intention (saṅkalpa) is ritually completed.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct during a yajña in this passage?

He emphasizes attentive participation—priests (dvijas) remain focused on the sacrificer and the rite, and the closing declaration is spoken correctly at the conclusion.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when not named explicitly, the Purana frames dharmic ritual order as part of the sustaining structure of the cosmos—ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme preserver of ṛta and dharma.