Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

सौम्या बर्हिषदः काव्या अग्निष्वात्ता इति त्रिधा गृहस्था ये तु यज्वानो हविर्यज्ञार्तवाश्च ये स्मृता बर्हिषदस्ते वै पुराणे निश्चयं गताः //

Transliteration

saumyā barhiṣadaḥ kāvyā agniṣvāttā iti tridhā gṛhasthā ye tu yajvāno haviryajñārtavāśca ye smṛtā barhiṣadaste vai purāṇe niścayaṃ gatāḥ //

Translation

The Pitṛs are described in three divisions—Saumya, Barhiṣad, Kāvya, and Agniṣvātta. Those who are householders (gṛhastha), who perform sacrifice (yajvāna), and who are remembered as offering havis and seasonal rites—these, in the Purāṇa, are determined with certainty to be the Barhiṣads.

Word by Word

• सौम्याः (saumyāḥ): the Saumya-class (gentle/lunar-type) Pitṛs

• बर्हिषदः (barhiṣadaḥ): Barhiṣad Pitṛs (those connected with the barhis/kuśa sacrificial grass)

• काव्याः (kāvyāḥ): Kāvya Pitṛs (line/class associated with Kavi/Śukra tradition in Pitṛ-taxonomy)

• अग्निष्वात्ताः (agniṣvāttāḥ): Agniṣvātta Pitṛs (those ‘tasted/consumed by fire’, a ritual class of ancestors)

• इति (iti): thus

• त्रिधा (tridhā): in three ways/threefold (as a classification)

• गृहस्थाः (gṛhasthāḥ): householders

• ये (ye): who

• तु (tu): indeed

• यज्वानः (yajvānaḥ): sacrificers, performers of yajña

• हविर्यज्ञ- (haviryajña-): havis-offering sacrifices (oblations of clarified butter/food)

• आर्तवाः (ārtavāḥ): seasonal/periodic rites (connected with ṛtu, seasons)

• च (ca): and

• ये स्मृताः (ye smṛtāḥ): who are remembered/recognized (in tradition)

• बर्हिषदः ते (barhiṣadaḥ te): they are the Barhiṣads

• वै (vai): certainly

• पुराणे (purāṇe): in the Purāṇa

• निश्चयम् (niścayam): as a settled conclusion

• गताः (gatāḥ): arrived at/established.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Barhiṣad Pitṛs
• Agniṣvātta Pitṛs
• Kāvya Pitṛs

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Ritual taxonomy
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Havis-yajña

FAQs

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

It does not address pralaya directly; it classifies ancestral beings (Pitṛs) and links the Barhiṣads to householders and Vedic offering-rites, a ritual framework that continues across cosmic cycles.

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

It ties the Barhiṣad category of Pitṛs to gṛhasthas who perform yajñas, havis-offerings, and seasonal rites—implying that regular domestic-sacrificial discipline sustains ancestral obligations that a king should also uphold and protect through dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it emphasizes havis-yajñas and periodic (seasonal) observances, which are foundational to śrāddha and Pitṛ-related rites in the Matsya Purana’s ritual system.