Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — How Śrāddha Offerings Reach the Ancestors

Devanagari script

श्रद्धा पुष्पमिदं प्रोक्तं फलं ब्रह्मसमागमः आयुः पुत्रान् धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च //

Transliteration

śraddhā puṣpamidaṃ proktaṃ phalaṃ brahmasamāgamaḥ āyuḥ putrān dhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargaṃ mokṣaṃ sukhāni ca //

Translation

Faith (śraddhā) is declared to be the flower of this observance; its fruit is communion with Brahman. From it arise long life, sons, wealth, knowledge, heaven, liberation (mokṣa), and also happiness.

Word by Word

• श्रद्धा (śraddhā): faith, reverent trust

• पुष्पम् (puṣpam): flower

• इदम् (idam): this

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): has been declared/said

• फलम् (phalam): fruit, result

• ब्रह्मसमागमः (brahmasamāgamaḥ): meeting/union/communion with Brahman

• आयुः (āyuḥ): lifespan, long life

• पुत्रान् (putrān): sons/children

• धनम् (dhanam): wealth

• विद्याम् (vidyām): knowledge, learning

• स्वर्गम् (svargam): heaven

• मोक्षम् (mokṣam): liberation

• सुखानि (sukhāni): pleasures, happinesses

• च (ca): and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu about dharma, faith, and the fruits of observances)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman

Tags

• Dharma
• Śraddhā
• Vrata-phala
• Moksha
• Svarga

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it teaches a dharmic principle: śraddhā (faith) is the essential inner offering that ripens into the highest result—communion with Brahman—beyond cosmic cycles.

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

For kings and householders, the verse frames ritual and charity as incomplete without śraddhā; when performed with sincere faith, dharma yields both worldly supports (life, progeny, wealth, learning) and higher aims (svarga and moksha).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is that faith is the ‘flower’ (the visible excellence) of any observance, and its mature ‘fruit’ is Brahman-realization, with subsidiary rewards also enumerated.