Shloka 43

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रं च तथा पुण्यम् अथ श्रीरङ्गसंज्ञितम् एतेष्वपि सदा श्राद्धम् अनन्तफलदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

mahendraṃ ca tathā puṇyam atha śrīraṅgasaṃjñitam eteṣvapi sadā śrāddham anantaphaladaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

Likewise, there are the sacred Mahendra and the holy place known as Śrīraṅga. At these too, the performance of śrāddha is always remembered as bestowing endless fruit—immeasurable merit.

Word by Word

• महेन्द्रम् (mahendram): Mahendra (a sacred place/tīrtha)

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• पुण्यम् (puṇyam): holy, merit-giving, sacred

• अथ (atha): moreover/then

• श्रीरङ्गसंज्ञितम् (śrīraṅga-saṃjñitam): called/known as Śrīraṅga

• एतेषु (eteṣu): in these (places)

• अपि (api): also/indeed

• सदा (sadā): always

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): ancestral rite/oblations for the Pitṛs

• अनन्तफलदम् (ananta-phala-dam): bestowing endless results

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Mahendra (tīrtha)
• Śrīraṅga (tīrtha)
• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs (implied)

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Shraddha
• Pitrs
• Dharma
• Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharmic ritual merit, stating that Śrāddha performed at specific tīrthas yields immeasurable results.

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

It reinforces the householder’s (and ruler’s) obligation to uphold Pitṛ-dharma: performing Śrāddha, especially at highly meritorious pilgrimage sites, is taught as a powerful means of sustaining lineage duties and accruing spiritual merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: the verse identifies Mahendra and Śrīraṅga as tīrthas where Śrāddha is considered especially efficacious, producing ‘endless’ merit.