Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

विप्राणामात्मनश्चैव तत्सर्वं समुदीरयेत् भुक्तवत्सु ततस्तेषु भोजनोपान्तिके नृप //

Transliteration

viprāṇāmātmanaścaiva tatsarvaṃ samudīrayet bhuktavatsu tatasteṣu bhojanopāntike nṛpa //

Translation

He should then duly recite and declare all that pertains to the Brahmanas and to himself; and after they have eaten, O King, he should do so again at the close of the meal, in their presence.

Word by Word

• विप्राणाम (viprāṇām): of the Brahmanas

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ): of oneself

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• तत् सर्वम् (tat sarvam): all that (matter/statement)

• समुदीरयेत् (samudīrayet): should utter/recite/proclaim

• भुक्तवत्सु (bhuktavatsu): when they have eaten/after they have eaten

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• तेषु (teṣu): among them/in their presence

• भोजन-उपान्तिके (bhojanopāntike): at the end/near the conclusion of the meal

• नृप (nṛpa): O king.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmanas)
• Nṛpa (King)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dana
• Shraddha
• Ritual procedure
• Brahmana-feeding

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is practical dharma: it prescribes what should be recited and formally stated during and after feeding Brahmanas, not cosmology or pralaya.

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

It frames a king/householder’s duty to conduct dana/hosted meals with proper verbal formalities—reciting the relevant statements for the invited Brahmanas and for oneself, especially at the meal’s conclusion, to complete the rite correctly.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it emphasizes the ‘closing’ step of a Brahmana-feeding rite—making the prescribed recitation/announcement in the diners’ presence at the end of the meal (bhojanopāntika), a key procedural marker for completion.