Shloka 58

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितॄञ्छ्राद्धभुजस्तु ये तेषां गतिं च सत्तत्वं प्राप्तिं श्राद्धस्य चैव हि //

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi pitṝñchrāddhabhujastu ye teṣāṃ gatiṃ ca sattatvaṃ prāptiṃ śrāddhasya caiva hi //

Translation

Now, next, I shall explain the Pitṛs who partake of the śrāddha-offering—along with their course (after death), their true condition, and how the śrāddha indeed reaches them.

Word by Word

• ataḥ param: hereafter/next

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall declare/explain

• pitṝn: the Pitṛs/ancestors

• śrāddha-bhujaḥ: those who eat/partake of the śrāddha offering

• tu: indeed

• ye: who

• teṣām: of them

• gatim: the path/destination/course

• ca: and

• sattatvam: true nature/real state of being

• prāptim: attainment/reaching (how it arrives)

• śrāddhasya: of the śrāddha rite/offerings

• ca eva: and indeed

• hi: for/assuredly.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this section of the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Ritual Dharma
• Ancestor rites
• Afterlife

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it shifts to ritual doctrine, announcing an explanation of how śrāddha offerings reach the Pitṛs and what destiny/state those Pitṛs have.

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

It frames śrāddha as a knowable, rule-governed duty: the householder (and by extension a king upholding dharma) should perform ancestor rites with understanding of who receives them and what fruit and transmission (prāpti) the rite has.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it serves as a topic-marker (saṅgraha) for the śrāddha section: it promises details on the recipient Pitṛs, their gati, and the mechanism by which offerings are received—core concerns for correct śrāddha procedure.