Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha

Devanagari script

गन्धोदकतिलैर्युक्तं कुर्यात्पात्रचतुष्टयम् अर्घार्थं पितृपात्रेषु प्रेतपात्रं प्रसेचयेत् //

Transliteration

gandhodakatilairyuktaṃ kuryātpātracatuṣṭayam arghārthaṃ pitṛpātreṣu pretapātraṃ prasecayet //

Translation

One should prepare a set of four vessels, furnished with perfumed water and sesame. Then, for the offering of arghya, one should pour from the preta-vessel into the vessels intended for the Pitṛs.

Word by Word

• gandha-udaka: perfumed water

• tilaiḥ: with sesame seeds

• yuktaṃ: furnished/combined

• kuryāt: one should make/prepare

• pātra-catuṣṭayam: a set of four vessels

• argha-artham: for the purpose of arghya (respectful offering)

• pitṛ-pātreṣu: into/among the vessels of the ancestors

• preta-pātram: the vessel designated for the departed/preta

• prasecayet: one should pour/sprinkle (libate).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Preta
• Arghya
• Tila (sesame)
• Gandhodaka (perfumed water)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Ritual procedure
• Ancestral offerings
• Gṛhastha-dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on śrāddha procedure—how to structure vessels and libations for offerings to the departed and the Pitṛs.

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

It encodes gṛhastha-dharma (and by extension royal dharma): maintaining ancestral rites through correct śrāddha offerings using prescribed substances (sesame, perfumed water) and proper vessel arrangement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a four-vessel setup and a directional act of libation—pouring from the preta-vessel into the Pitṛ-vessels for arghya—highlighting procedural precision in ancestral worship.