Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Procedure for Going to Prayaga and the Greatness of the Ganga

Devanagari script

नरके वसते घोरे गवां क्रोष्टा हि दारुणे सलिलं न च गृह्णन्ति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः //

Transliteration

narake vasate ghore gavāṃ kroṣṭā hi dāruṇe salilaṃ na ca gṛhṇanti pitarastasya dehinaḥ //

Translation

When a person dwells in a dreadful hell—the terrible one called ‘Gavāṃ-kroṣṭā’—the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits) do not accept even the water-offering (udaka) made on behalf of that embodied being.

Word by Word

• narake: in hell

• vasate: (when he) dwells/lives

• ghore: dreadful, terrifying

• gavāṃ: of cows

• kroṣṭā: jackal/howling (name indicating a ‘howling’ hell)

• hi: indeed

• dāruṇe: harsh, terrible

• salilam: water, water-offering

• na: not

• ca: and

• gṛhṇanti: accept, receive

• pitaras: the ancestors/Pitṛs

• tasya: of that

• dehinaḥ: embodied person, the living being (as a soul in a body)

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu in a didactic discourse on naraka and pitṛ-dharma (chapter-level dialogue attribution).

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Naraka
• Gavāṃ-kroṣṭā

Tags

• Naraka
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Karma-phala
• Śrāddha
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on karmic retribution in hell and the ritual-spiritual consequence that the Pitṛs refuse water-offerings for one suffering such naraka.

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

It underscores ethical governance and household conduct by warning that grave wrongdoing leads to naraka and disrupts śrāddha/ tarpaṇa efficacy—motivating kings and householders to uphold dharma so family ancestor-rites remain spiritually fruitful.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights tarpaṇa (water-offering) and the principle that certain severe sins can render offerings ‘unaccepted’ by the Pitṛs—an important Matsya Purana cue for śrāddha discipline rather than a Vāstu or temple-rule passage.