Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच श्रुत्वैतत् सर्वम् अखिलं मनुः पप्रच्छ केशवम् श्राद्धकालं च विविधं श्राद्धभेदं तथैव च //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca śrutvaitat sarvam akhilaṃ manuḥ papraccha keśavam śrāddhakālaṃ ca vividhaṃ śrāddhabhedaṃ tathaiva ca //

Translation

Sūta said: Having heard all of this in full, Manu questioned Keśava about the various proper times for performing śrāddha rites, and likewise about the different kinds of śrāddha.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta

• uvāca: said

• śrutvā: having heard

• etat: this

• sarvam: all

• akhilam: entirely/in full

• manuḥ: Manu

• papraccha: asked/inquired

• keśavam: Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• śrāddha-kālam: the time/occasion for śrāddha

• ca: and

• vividham: various

• śrāddha-bhedam: the classifications/types of śrāddha

• tathā eva: likewise/just so

• ca: and

Speaker

• Sūta

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Manu
• Keśava (Vishnu)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Ritual Dharma
• Gṛhastha Duties
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it transitions the narrative into ritual instruction, introducing Manu’s inquiry about śrāddha timing and types.

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

By asking about śrāddha-kāla and śrāddha-bheda, Manu highlights a core gṛhastha duty: maintaining ancestral rites as part of dharma, which also models ideal conduct for rulers and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it frames an upcoming technical discussion on when śrāddha should be performed and how different śrāddha rites are classified.