Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

दश मासांस्तु तृप्यन्ति वराहमहिषामिषैः शशकूर्मजमांसेन मासानेकादशैव तु //

Transliteration

daśa māsāṃstu tṛpyanti varāhamahiṣāmiṣaiḥ śaśakūrmajamāṃsena māsānekādaśaiva tu //

Translation

With the flesh of boar and buffalo, the Ancestors are satisfied for ten months; and with the meat of hare and of tortoise, they are satisfied for eleven months.

Word by Word

• daśa: ten

• māsān: months

• tu: indeed/and

• tṛpyanti: are satisfied/are gratified

• varāha: boar

• mahiṣa: buffalo

• amiṣaiḥ: with flesh/meat (animal food)

• śaśa: hare/rabbit

• kūrma: tortoise

• ja: born from/derived from (here: ‘of’)

• māṃsena: with meat

• māsān: months

• ekādaśa: eleven

• eva: exactly/indeed

• tu: and/also

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, on śrāddha efficacy)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Varāha (boar)
• Mahiṣa (buffalo)
• Śaśa (hare)
• Kūrma (tortoise)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Ritual Food
• Dharma
• Puranic Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on ritual dharma—how specific food offerings in śrāddha are believed to gratify the Pitṛs for a stated duration.

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

It frames a householder’s (and by extension a king’s) duty to maintain ancestral rites: selecting prescribed offerings for śrāddha is presented as a means to honor lineage and uphold social-religious order (dharma).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it quantifies the ‘duration of satisfaction’ of the Pitṛs based on particular meat offerings, reflecting śrāddha’s detailed procedural tradition.