Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha

Devanagari script

मुक्तो ऽपि लेपभागित्वं प्राप्नोति कुशमार्जनात् लेपभाजश्चतुर्थाद्याः पित्राद्याः पिण्डभागिनः पिण्डदः सप्तमस्तेषां सापिण्ड्यं साप्तपौरुषम् //

Transliteration

mukto 'pi lepabhāgitvaṃ prāpnoti kuśamārjanāt lepabhājaścaturthādyāḥ pitrādyāḥ piṇḍabhāginaḥ piṇḍadaḥ saptamasteṣāṃ sāpiṇḍyaṃ sāptapauruṣam //

Translation

Even one who is otherwise released from direct entitlement attains a share in the residual rite (lepa) through cleansing with kuśa-grass. Those beginning from the fourth ancestor are entitled to the lepa-share; those beginning with the father are entitled to the piṇḍa-offerings. The seventh is the giver of the piṇḍa; thus sapinda-relationship extends to seven generations.

Word by Word

• muktaḥ: one released/exempt

• api: even

• lepa-bhāgitvam: entitlement to a lepa-share (residual offering)

• prāpnoti: obtains

• kuśa-mārjanāt: from cleansing/sprinkling with kuśa grass

• lepa-bhājaḥ: those who partake of lepa

• caturtha-ādyāḥ: beginning with the fourth

• pitṛ-ādyāḥ: beginning with the father

• piṇḍa-bhāginaḥ: sharers/recipients of the piṇḍa (rice-ball offering)

• piṇḍa-daḥ: giver/offerer of the piṇḍa

• saptamaḥ: the seventh

• teṣām: of them/among them

• sāpiṇḍyam: sapinda-relationship (kinship through shared piṇḍa)

• sāpta-pauruṣam: extending to seven persons/generations

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s dharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Kuśa grass
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Sapinda
• Piṇḍa
• Lepa

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-dharma
• Sapinda
• Ritual procedure
• Householder duties

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on Śrāddha mechanics—who receives piṇḍa and lepa shares and how sapinda kinship is defined across seven generations.

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

It codifies the householder’s (and thus a king’s) dharma in properly offering Śrāddha: understanding which ancestors receive direct piṇḍa offerings, who receives residual lepa, and the seven-generation sapinda framework used for ritual eligibility and kinship duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: kuśa-grass purification and the technical distribution of offerings (piṇḍa vs. lepa) in Śrāddha, along with the seven-generation sapinda rule that governs who is ritually connected.