Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

शिवनेत्रोद्भवं यस्मात् तस्मात्तत्पितृवल्लभम् अमङ्गलं तद्यत्नेन देवकार्येषु वर्जयेत् //

Transliteration

śivanetrodbhavaṃ yasmāt tasmāttatpitṛvallabham amaṅgalaṃ tadyatnena devakāryeṣu varjayet //

Translation

Since it is said to have arisen from Śiva’s eye, it is therefore dear to the Pitṛs. Being inauspicious, one should carefully avoid it in rites performed for the gods.

Word by Word

• śiva-netra-udbhavam: arisen from Śiva’s eye

• yasmāt: since/because

• tasmāt: therefore

• tat: that (substance)

• pitṛ-vallabham: beloved of the Pitṛs/ancestors

• amaṅgalam: inauspicious

• tat: that

• yatnena: with care/effort

• deva-kāryeṣu: in acts/rites for the gods

• varjayet: should avoid/abstain from

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Pitrs (ancestral spirits)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ritual purity
• Auspiciousness
• Devakarya
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it lays down a ritual rule distinguishing what is suitable for deva-rites versus what is associated with Pitṛ-worship.

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

It advises careful discrimination in ritual practice: a householder or king sponsoring worship should avoid inauspicious, Pitṛ-associated items in ceremonies meant for the gods, preserving śubha (auspicious) conditions in public and domestic rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it marks a clear boundary between deva-kārya and pitṛ-kārya: items regarded as Pitṛ-beloved (and thus inauspicious for deva worship) should be excluded from deity rituals—an important purity rule in Matsya Purana-style temple and household worship.