Shloka 53

Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types

Devanagari script

विप्राग्रतो वा विकिरेद् वयोभिर् अभिवाशयेत् पत्नी तु मध्यमं पिण्डं प्राशयेद् विनयान्विता //

Transliteration

viprāgrato vā vikired vayobhir abhivāśayet patnī tu madhyamaṃ piṇḍaṃ prāśayed vinayānvitā //

Translation

He should either scatter the offering in front of the Brahmins, or respectfully invite the elders to partake. Then the wife, endowed with humility and proper conduct, should cause the middle piṇḍa (rice-ball offering) to be eaten.

Word by Word

• viprāgrataḥ: in front of Brahmins

• vā: or

• vikiret: should scatter/sprinkle (the offering)

• vayobhiḥ: by/for the elders (aged ones)

• abhivāśayet: should invite to eat/partake (offer respectfully)

• patnī: the wife

• tu: indeed/then

• madhyamam: the middle

• piṇḍam: piṇḍa, rice-ball offering (Śrāddha)

• prāśayet: should make (someone) eat / should cause to be consumed

• vinayānvitā: endowed with humility, modesty, proper decorum.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu the ritual code)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Patnī (wife)
• Vayas (elders)
• Piṇḍa (Śrāddha offering)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Pitṛ-kārya
• Ritual procedure
• Brahmin-honouring

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of Śrāddha etiquette—how offerings are to be handled and who should be honoured.

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

It outlines gṛhastha-dharma: honouring Brahmins and elders during ancestral rites, and assigning a defined, respectful role to the wife in completing the piṇḍa-related procedure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (Śrāddha): proper distribution/handling of offerings before Brahmins and elders, and the wife’s vinaya-guided act of having the middle piṇḍa consumed as part of the rite.