Shloka 60

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

अत्र देवान्पितॄंश्चैते पितरो लौकिकाः स्मृताः तेषां ते धर्मसामर्थ्यात् स्मृताः सायुज्यगा द्विजैः //

Transliteration

atra devānpitṝṃścaite pitaro laukikāḥ smṛtāḥ teṣāṃ te dharmasāmarthyāt smṛtāḥ sāyujyagā dvijaiḥ //

Translation

Here, these are remembered as the worldly Pitṛs—ancestors among the gods and among the manes. By the power of their dharma, the learned twice-born declare that they attain sāyujya (union or close communion) with the divine.

Word by Word

• atra: here/in this context

• devān: the gods

• pitṝn: the Pitṛs/manes/ancestors

• ca: and

• ete: these

• pitaraḥ: fathers/ancestors

• laukikāḥ: worldly/pertaining to the world

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/are taught

• teṣām: of them

• te: those (ancestors)

• dharma-sāmarthyāt: from the efficacy/power of dharma (righteous merit)

• smṛtāḥ: are stated/are taught

• sāyujya-gāḥ: going to/attaining sāyujya (union/identity/close union)

• dvijaiḥ: by the twice-born (brāhmaṇas/learned).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Śrāddha/Pitṛ teaching section)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Dvija

Tags

• Pitrs
• Shraddha
• Dharma
• Afterlife
• Sāyujya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it explains the status of certain Pitṛs (ancestors) and states that through the strength of dharma they are said to attain sāyujya—an exalted posthumous union/communion with the divine.

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

It supports the householder’s (and ruler’s) duty to uphold dharma and maintain ancestral rites (Śrāddha), implying that dharmic merit connected with Pitṛ obligations leads to elevated ancestral states such as sāyujya.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it frames Pitṛ doctrine used to justify Śrāddha/ancestor-offerings, emphasizing that dharma linked to such rites yields high spiritual attainments for the ancestors.