Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

अन्नं तु सदधिक्षीरं गोघृतं शर्करान्वितम् मासं प्रीणाति वै सर्वान् पितॄनित्याह केशवः //

Transliteration

annaṃ tu sadadhikṣīraṃ goghṛtaṃ śarkarānvitam māsaṃ prīṇāti vai sarvān pitṝnityāha keśavaḥ //

Translation

Food prepared with curd and milk, enriched with cow’s ghee (goghṛta) and mixed with sugar, is said to satisfy all the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits) for a month—thus declares Keśava (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• annam: food/meal

• tu: indeed

• sadadhi-kṣīram: with good curd and milk

• go-ghṛtam: cow’s ghee

• śarkarā-anvitam: accompanied with sugar/sweetened

• māsaṃ: for a month

• prīṇāti: satisfies/pleases

• vai: indeed

• sarvān: all

• pitṝn: the Pitṛs/ancestors

• iti: thus

• āha: said/declared

• keśavaḥ: Keśava (Viṣṇu)

Speaker

• Keśava (Lord Viṣṇu, in the Matsya Purana dialogue tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Keśava
• Pitṛs

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Ritual food
• Householder dharma
• Matsya Purana rites

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on Śrāddha practice, stating the time-bound fruit of a specific food offering to the Pitṛs.

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

It supports gṛhastha-dharma by prescribing an effective Śrāddha offering: a sweetened preparation with milk, curd, and cow’s ghee, believed to nourish and satisfy the ancestors for a month.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it specifies the composition of an offering and its stated efficacy—monthly satisfaction of the Pitṛs—highlighting ingredient-based ritual results in the Matsya Purana.