Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha

Devanagari script

यावदब्दं नरश्रेष्ठ सतिलोदकपूर्वकम् ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे सपिण्डीकरणं भवेत् //

Transliteration

yāvadabdaṃ naraśreṣṭha satilodakapūrvakam tataḥ saṃvatsare pūrṇe sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṃ bhavet //

Translation

O best of men, for the space of a year one should perform the rites beginning with offerings of water mixed with sesame; then, when the year is fully completed, the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa—joining the departed to the ancestral line—should be performed.

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as

• abdam: a year

• naraśreṣṭha: O best among men

• sa-tilodaka: water together with sesame (tilodaka)

• pūrvakam: preceded by / in the form of the preliminary rite

• tataḥ: then

• saṃvatsare: when the year

• pūrṇe: is completed

• sapiṇḍīkaraṇam: the rite of making (the departed) a sapinda, joining with the ancestral piṇḍa-group

• bhavet: should take place / is to be done

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa
• Tilodaka
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Antyeṣṭi
• Pitṛs
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual-timing

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on ritual timekeeping in śrāddha—maintaining offerings for a year and then performing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa.

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

It lays down gṛhastha-dharma: the householder (and by extension a ruler as guardian of dharma) should ensure proper ancestor rites—regular tilodaka offerings for a year after death, followed by the formal sapiṇḍīkaraṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it specifies the sequence and timing—tilodaka-based observances for one year, then the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa rite that ritually affiliates the deceased with the ancestral piṇḍa group.