Shloka 69

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

तिलार्थस्तु यवैः कार्यो नान्दीशब्दानुपूर्वकः माङ्गल्यानि च सर्वाणि वाचयेद्द्विजपुंगवैः //

Transliteration

tilārthastu yavaiḥ kāryo nāndīśabdānupūrvakaḥ māṅgalyāni ca sarvāṇi vācayeddvijapuṃgavaiḥ //

Translation

In place of the offering made with sesame, one should make it with barley (yava), preceded by the utterance of the Nāndī formulas; and one should have all auspicious benedictions recited by eminent Brahmins (dvija-puṅgava).

Word by Word

• tila: sesame

• arthaḥ: purpose/that which is intended (as an offering)

• tu: but/indeed

• yavaiḥ: with barley grains

• kāryaḥ: should be done/should be performed

• nāndī-śabda: Nāndī words (auspicious introductory formulas)

• anupūrvakaḥ: preceded by/in due sequence

• māṅgalyāni: auspicious benedictions

• ca: and

• sarvāṇi: all

• vācayet: should cause to be recited

• dvija-puṃgavaiḥ: by the best of the twice-born (excellent Brahmins).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual-vidhi context)

Entities Mentioned

• Nāndī (auspicious formulas)
• Dvija (Brahmins)

Tags

• Ritual
• Śrāddha
• Mantra
• Brahmin duties
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on correct ritual procedure—using barley as the intended offering in a given context and beginning with Nāndī (auspicious) utterances.

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

It frames a householder’s (and by extension a king’s) dharmic duty to conduct rites with proper auspicious preliminaries and to engage qualified Brahmins to recite maṅgala blessings, ensuring the ceremony is performed according to śāstra.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: offerings may require barley instead of sesame in this procedure, and the rite should be inaugurated with Nāndī formulas and completed with auspicious recitations by learned Brahmins.