Shloka 82

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

सायाह्नस्त्रिमुहूर्तः स्याच् छ्राद्धं तत्र न कारयेत् राक्षसी नाम सा वेला गर्हिता सर्वकर्मसु //

Transliteration

sāyāhnastrimuhūrtaḥ syāc chrāddhaṃ tatra na kārayet rākṣasī nāma sā velā garhitā sarvakarmasu //

Translation

The late-afternoon period of three muhūrtas is called sāyāhna; one should not perform śrāddha at that time. That time-period is known as “Rākṣasī” and is censured for all rites.

Word by Word

• सायाह्नः (sāyāhnaḥ): late afternoon/evening time

• त्रिमुहूर्तः (trimuhūrtaḥ): consisting of three muhūrtas (a time-unit)

• स्यात् (syāt): is/should be

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): ancestral rite/oblation for Pitṛs

• तत्र (tatra): there/at that time

• न (na): not

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be done/should perform

• राक्षसी (rākṣasī): ‘Rākṣasī’ (inauspicious, demonic-named)

• नाम (nāma): by name/called

• सा (sā): that

• वेला (velā): time period/occasion

• गर्हिता (garhītā): condemned/censured

• सर्वकर्मसु (sarvakarmasu): in all actions/rites

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha
• Muhūrta

Tags

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Muhūrta
• Ritual timing
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of ritual timekeeping, warning that certain periods are ritually unsuitable.

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

It instructs householders (and by extension kings who uphold public dharma) to observe proper muhūrta discipline: śrāddha should not be done in the sāyāhna trimuhūrta, preserving ritual correctness and social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it identifies an inauspicious time-slot called Rākṣasī velā and prohibits performing śrāddha (and broadly discourages rites) during it.