Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

*ऋषय ऊचुः कस्मिन्काले च तच्छ्राद्धम् अनन्तफलदं भवेत् कस्मिन्वासरभागे तु श्राद्धकृच्छ्राद्धमाचरेत् तीर्थेषु केषु च कृतं श्राद्धं बहुफलं भवेत् //

Transliteration

*ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kasminkāle ca tacchrāddham anantaphaladaṃ bhavet kasminvāsarabhāge tu śrāddhakṛcchrāddhamācaret tīrtheṣu keṣu ca kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ bahuphalaṃ bhavet //

Translation

The sages said: “At what time does that śrāddha become bestowing endless results? And in which part of the day should the performer of śrāddha carry out the śrāddha rite? Further, at which sacred pilgrimage places does śrāddha, when performed, yield abundant merit?”

Word by Word

• ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ): the sages

• ऊचुः (ūcuḥ): said

• कस्मिन् (kasmin): in which

• काले (kāle): time/season

• च (ca): and

• तत् (tat): that

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): śrāddha rite/ancestral offering

• अनन्त-फलदम् (ananta-phaladam): giving infinite fruit/results

• भवेत् (bhavet): becomes/would be

• कस्मिन् (kasmin): in which

• वासर-भागे (vāsara-bhāge): division/portion of the day

• तु (tu): indeed

• श्राद्ध-कृत् (śrāddha-kṛt): the performer of śrāddha

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): the śrāddha

• आचरेत् (ācaret): should perform/undertake

• तीर्थेषु (tīrtheṣu): at holy fords/pilgrimage sites

• केषु (keṣu): in which (places)

• च (ca): and

• कृतम् (kṛtam): performed/done

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): śrāddha

• बहु-फलम् (bahu-phalam): much fruit/great merit

• भवेत् (bhavet): would be/comes to be

Speaker

• The sages (Ṛṣayaḥ)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛṣis (Sages)
• Śrāddha
• Tīrtha (pilgrimage places)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-dharma
• Ritual timing
• Tīrtha
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it opens a ritual-dharma inquiry, focusing on when and where śrāddha yields the highest merit.

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

It frames śrāddha as a key householder duty (pitṛ-yajña), asking for precise guidance on proper timing and place—implying that disciplined ritual observance is part of dharmic life for rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is calendrical and spatial: the sages seek the correct time-part of the day and the most meritorious tīrthas for performing śrāddha, highlighting procedure and location as determinants of ritual efficacy.