Shloka 64

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

प्रजावतां प्रसिद्धैषा उक्ता श्राद्धकृतां च वै तेषां निवापे दत्तं हि तत्कुलीनैस्तु बान्धवैः //

Transliteration

prajāvatāṃ prasiddhaiṣā uktā śrāddhakṛtāṃ ca vai teṣāṃ nivāpe dattaṃ hi tatkulīnaistu bāndhavaiḥ //

Translation

This practice is well known among those who have descendants and is indeed taught for performers of śrāddha; for them, the nivāpa offering is truly to be given by relatives belonging to that very family line.

Word by Word

• प्रजावताम् (prajāvatām): of those who have progeny/descendants

• प्रसिद्धा (prasiddhā): well-known, established

• एषा (eṣā): this (practice)

• उक्ता (uktā): said, prescribed

• श्राद्धकृताम् (śrāddhakṛtām): of those who perform śrāddha

• च वै (ca vai): and indeed

• तेषाम् (teṣām): for them, of those persons

• निवापे (nivāpe): in/for the nivāpa offering (portion offered for ancestors)

• दत्तम् (dattam): given, offered

• हि (hi): surely, indeed

• तत्कुलीनैः (tatkulīnaiḥ): by those belonging to that family/lineage

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• बान्धवैः (bāndhavaiḥ): by kinsmen, relatives

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Nivāpa
• Bāndhavas (Kinsmen)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-dharma
• Gṛhastha duties
• Ritual offerings
• Lineage

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on śrāddha-dharma—specifically, who should give the nivāpa offering for ancestors within a family line.

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

It reinforces gṛhastha-dharma: ancestral rites are a lineage responsibility, and qualified family relatives (bāndhavas of the same kula) should ensure the nivāpa is duly offered during śrāddha.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the nivāpa in śrāddha—an earmarked offering for the Pitṛs—emphasizing proper agency (performed/given by one’s own kula-relatives) for the rite to be socially and ritually valid.