Shloka 50

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

अथ पुष्पाक्षतान् पश्चाद् अक्षय्योदकम् एव च सतिलं नामगोत्रेण दद्याच्छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् //

Transliteration

atha puṣpākṣatān paścād akṣayyodakam eva ca satilaṃ nāmagotreṇa dadyācchaktyā ca dakṣiṇām //

Translation

Then, afterwards, one should offer flowers and unbroken rice-grains (akṣata), and also the ‘inexhaustible water-offering’ (akṣayyodaka) together with sesame—presenting it while pronouncing the recipient’s name and gotra (lineage), and giving a dakṣiṇā (priestly fee) according to one’s capacity.

Word by Word

• atha: then

• puṣpa: flowers

• akṣatān: unbroken rice-grains (akṣata)

• paścāt: afterwards

• akṣayya-udakam: inexhaustible/undiminishing water-offering (a meritorious libation)

• eva: indeed/also

• ca: and

• sa-tilaṃ: together with sesame (tila)

• nāma-gotreṇa: with (utterance of) name and gotra

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• śaktyā: according to ability

• dakṣiṇām: honorarium/fee to the officiant

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Akṣata
• Tila
• Dakṣiṇā
• Gotra

Tags

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Householder duties

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it gives a dharma-oriented ritual sequence for offerings (flowers, akṣata, water-libation, sesame) and the proper manner of giving (with name/gotra and dakṣiṇā).

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

It frames a core gṛhastha duty: perform offerings with correct sankalpa markers (name and gotra) and support the rite by giving dakṣiṇā proportionate to one’s means—emphasizing both correctness and ethical generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies standard upacāras and dāna items—puṣpa, akṣata, udaka, and tila—plus the formal identification (nāma-gotra) and concluding dakṣiṇā, reflecting a complete and socially sanctioned rite-performance.