Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha

Devanagari script

त्रिपिण्डमाचरेच्छ्राद्धम् एकोद्दिष्टे मृते ऽहनि एकोद्दिष्टं परित्यज्य मृताहे यः समाचरेत् //

Transliteration

tripiṇḍamācarecchrāddham ekoddiṣṭe mṛte 'hani ekoddiṣṭaṃ parityajya mṛtāhe yaḥ samācaret //

Translation

On the day of death, when the rite is to be performed as the eka-oddiṣṭa (an offering intended for a single departed person), one should perform the śrāddha with three piṇḍas. Whoever, on the death-day, abandons the eka-oddiṣṭa and instead performs another form (of śrāddha) acts improperly.

Word by Word

• त्रिपिण्डम्: with three piṇḍa offerings

• आचरेत्: should perform/observe

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite for the departed

• एकोद्दिष्टे: in the eka-oddiṣṭa procedure/when meant for one specific deceased

• मृते अहनि (मृते 'हनि): on the day of death

• एकोद्दिष्टम्: the eka-oddiṣṭa śrāddha

• परित्यज्य: abandoning/omitting

• मृताहे: on the death-day

• यः: whoever

• समाचरेत्: performs (a rite)/undertakes (practice)

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Ekaoddiṣṭa Śrāddha
• Piṇḍa
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Antyeṣṭi
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual procedure
• Ancestral rites

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on correct śrāddha procedure to be followed on the day of death for a specific departed individual.

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

It states a householder’s dharma in honoring the departed: on the death-day one must not substitute or omit the prescribed eka-oddiṣṭa framework, and the rite should include the tri-piṇḍa offering as taught here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies the death-day śrāddha protocol—eka-oddiṣṭa context and the performance with three piṇḍas—warning against replacing the prescribed rite with an alternative on that day.