Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि विष्णुना यदुदीरितम् श्राद्धं साधारणं नाम भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi viṣṇunā yadudīritam śrāddhaṃ sādhāraṇaṃ nāma bhuktimuktiphalapradam //

Translation

Sūta said: “Now I shall expound what was proclaimed by Viṣṇu—namely the ‘general’ (sādhāraṇa) śrāddha, which bestows the fruits of both worldly enjoyment and liberation.”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• ataḥ param: henceforth/now further

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain

• viṣṇunā: by Viṣṇu

• yat: which

• udīritam: declared/proclaimed

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite/ancestor-offering

• sādhāraṇam: common/general (applicable broadly)

• nāma: by name/called

• bhukti: enjoyment/prosperity

• mukti: liberation

• phala: fruit/result

• pradam: bestowing/giving

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Uvāca)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Viṣṇu
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-dharma
• Ritual
• Dharma
• Mokṣa

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces a ritual teaching (sādhāraṇa śrāddha) attributed to Viṣṇu and highlights its spiritual efficacy.

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

It frames śrāddha as a dharmic duty—especially central to householders—presented as a practice that supports both prosperity (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), aligning worldly responsibility with spiritual aims.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: the text is transitioning into instructions for a ‘general śrāddha’ procedure, emphasizing its broad applicability and its promised results.