Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha

Devanagari script

पितृष्वेव तु दातव्यं तत्पिण्डो येषु संस्थितः ततः प्रभृति संक्रान्ताव् उपरागादिपर्वसु //

Transliteration

pitṛṣveva tu dātavyaṃ tatpiṇḍo yeṣu saṃsthitaḥ tataḥ prabhṛti saṃkrāntāv uparāgādiparvasu //

Translation

That piṇḍa-offering is to be given only to the Pitṛs, in whom that offering is understood to abide; and from that time onward it should be performed on Saṅkrānti days and on festival occasions such as eclipses and the like.

Word by Word

• पितृषु (pitṛṣu): to/for the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits)

• एव (eva): only/indeed

• तु (tu): and/but

• दातव्यम् (dātavyam): should be given/ought to be offered

• तत्-पिण्डः (tat-piṇḍaḥ): that piṇḍa (rice-ball oblation)

• येषु (yeṣu): in whom/in which (beings)

• संस्थितः (saṃsthitaḥ): is established/abides

• ततः (tataḥ): from that (time/point)

• प्रभृति (prabhṛti): onwards/from then

• संक्रान्तौ (saṃkrāntau): on Saṅkrānti (solar ingress)

• उपराग-आदि-पर्वसु (uparāga-ādi-parvasu): on festivals beginning with eclipses (eclipse-days etc.)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Piṇḍa
• Saṅkrānti
• Uparāga (eclipse)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Ritual Calendar
• Householder Dharma
• Eclipse Rites

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on Pitṛ-rites (śrāddha/piṇḍa) and specifies proper recipients (Pitṛs) and auspicious ritual timings (Saṅkrānti, eclipses, and other parva days).

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

It sets a clear householder duty: piṇḍa offerings are to be directed to the Pitṛs and repeated on key calendrical occasions (solar ingresses and eclipse-related festivals), reinforcing regular ancestral obligation as part of dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it links śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna to specific high-merit times—Saṅkrānti and eclipse/parva days—indicating when ancestral offerings are especially prescribed.