Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types

Devanagari script

पार्वणे ये नियोज्यास्तु ताञ्शृणुष्व नराधिप पञ्चाग्निः स्नातकश्चैव त्रिसुपर्णः षडङ्गवित् //

Transliteration

pārvaṇe ye niyojyāstu tāñśṛṇuṣva narādhipa pañcāgniḥ snātakaścaiva trisuparṇaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavit //

Translation

O king, listen to those who may be appointed for the Parvaṇa (śrāddha) rite: one who maintains the five sacred fires (pañcāgni), a duly graduated Vedic student (snātaka), one versed in the Trisuparṇa Vedic recitation, and one who knows the six Vedāṅgas (ṣaḍaṅga).

Word by Word

• पार्वणे (pārvaṇe): in the Parvaṇa rite/periodic Śrāddha

• ये (ye): who

• नियोज्याः (niyojyāḥ): to be appointed/engaged

• तु (tu): indeed

• तान् (tān): those

• शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva): hear/listen

• नराधिप (narādhipa): O king/lord of men

• पञ्चाग्निः (pañcāgniḥ): maintainer of five sacred fires (pañcāgni-vidyā/pañcāgni)

• स्नातकः (snātakaḥ): one who has completed Vedic study and taken the graduation bath

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• त्रिसुपर्णः (trisuparṇaḥ): knower/reciter of the Trisuparṇa hymns/section

• षडङ्गवित् (ṣaḍaṅgavit): knower of the six Vedāṅgas (auxiliaries of the Veda).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching) to Vaivasvata Manu (addressed as narādhipa/king)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Snātaka
• Pañcāgni (five fires)
• Trisuparṇa
• Ṣaḍaṅga (six Vedāṅgas)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Parvaṇa
• Rajadharma
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Vedic qualifications

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it outlines ritual eligibility for the Parvaṇa/Śrāddha ceremony, emphasizing Vedic discipline and learning.

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

It instructs the king (and by extension householders under royal order) whom to select for officiating or participating in Śrāddha—those established in sacred fires, Vedic graduation (snātaka), and Vedic-auxiliary learning—so that ancestral rites are performed correctly.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it lists qualifications (pañcāgni, snātaka, trisuparṇa, ṣaḍaṅgavit) for appointment in Parvaṇa Śrāddha, highlighting orthodox Vedic competence rather than temple architecture or Vāstu.