Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

संवत्सरं तु गव्येन पयसा पायसेन च रौरवेण च तृप्यन्ति मासान्पञ्चदशैव तु //

Transliteration

saṃvatsaraṃ tu gavyena payasā pāyasena ca rauraveṇa ca tṛpyanti māsānpañcadaśaiva tu //

Translation

By cow’s milk—whether as milk itself or as sweet rice (pāyasa)—they are satisfied for a full year; and (those in) Raurava are satisfied for fifteen months.

Word by Word

• saṃvatsaram: for a year

• tu: indeed

• gavyena: with cow’s (product), i.e., cow’s milk

• payasā: with milk

• pāyasena: with pāyasa (milk-rice, sweet rice pudding)

• ca: and

• rauraveṇa: in/connected with Raurava (a hell named Raurava)

• ca: and

• tṛpyanti: they become satisfied/appeased

• māsān: (for) months

• pañcadaśa: fifteen

• eva: precisely/only

• tu: indeed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Raurava (Naraka)

Tags

• Naraka
• Shraddha
• Pitri
• Dana
• Karmaphala

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches karmic recompense and ritual efficacy—how specific offerings (milk/pāyasa) yield measurable relief or satisfaction in post-death states such as Raurava.

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

It supports the householder (and ruler) duty of dāna and śrāddha-type rites: offering cow’s milk or milk-based food is presented as a meritorious act that brings sustained benefit (a year or fifteen months), aligning with dharma of care for ancestors/spirits and social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: milk and pāyasa are specified as effective offerings, with a stated duration of appeasement/satisfaction, and Raurava is named as the relevant naraka context.