Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Kauśika Descendants: Śrāddha

Devanagari script

यत्कृतं क्रूरकर्मापि श्राद्धरूपेण तैस्तदा तेन ते भवने जाता व्याधानां क्रूरकर्मिणाम् //

Transliteration

yatkṛtaṃ krūrakarmāpi śrāddharūpeṇa taistadā tena te bhavane jātā vyādhānāṃ krūrakarmiṇām //

Translation

Whatever cruel deed they performed at that time under the guise of a śrāddha, because of that very act they were born in the households of hunters—men engaged in ruthless deeds.

Word by Word

• yat-kṛtam: whatever was done

• krūra-karma api: even though it was a cruel act

• śrāddha-rūpeṇa: in the form/guise of a śrāddha rite

• taiḥ tadā: by them then/at that time

• tena: by that (as the cause)

• te: they

• bhavane: in the house/household

• jātāḥ: were born

• vyādhānām: of hunters (vyādha)

• krūra-karmiṇām: of cruel-doers/ruthless practitioners

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, continuing the didactic narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Vyādha (hunters)

Tags

• Shraddha
• Karma
• Rebirth
• Dharma
• Ritual ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches karmic causality—misusing sacred rites (śrāddha) for cruel actions leads to an adverse rebirth.

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

It warns rulers and householders to keep śrāddha and charitable rites free from हिंसा (violence) and deceit; dharma performed with cruelty or hypocrisy produces harmful social and personal consequences, including degraded birth.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual-ethical: śrāddha must be a genuine ancestor rite, not a pretext for cruelty; otherwise the rite becomes karmically destructive rather than merit-producing.