Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — The Kauśika Descendants: Śrāddha

Devanagari script

श्राद्धे नियोज्यमानेयं पापात्त्रास्यति नो ध्रुवम् एव कुर्वित्यनुज्ञातः पितृवर्ती तदानुजैः //

Transliteration

śrāddhe niyojyamāneyaṃ pāpāttrāsyati no dhruvam eva kurvityanujñātaḥ pitṛvartī tadānujaiḥ //

Translation

“When this rite is duly enjoined in the śrāddha, it will surely rescue us from sin. Therefore do it indeed.” Thus, with the permission of his younger kinsmen, he—obedient to the Pitṛs (ancestral fathers)—proceeded to perform it.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धे (śrāddhe): in the śrāddha/ancestor rite

• नियोज्यमानेयम् (niyojyamāneyaṃ): when it is being prescribed/enjoined (this act/rite)

• पापात् (pāpāt): from sin

• त्रास्यति (trāsyati): will save/rescue

• नः (naḥ): us

• ध्रुवम् (dhruvam): certainly

• एव (eva): indeed

• कुरु (kuru): do (it)

• इति (iti): thus

• अनुज्ञातः (anujñātaḥ): permitted/authorized

• पितृवर्ती (pitṛ-vartī): one who follows/acts according to the Pitṛs (ancestral injunction)

• तदनुजैः (tad-anujaiḥ): by/with those younger (brothers/kinsmen) of him/thereof

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice within the Purāṇic discourse; śrāddha instruction context)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Dharma
• Ritual procedure
• Punya-pāpa

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on śrāddha as a dharmic act that protects descendants by relieving sin and honoring the Pitṛs.

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

It reinforces the householder’s duty to perform śrāddha when properly prescribed, acting with family consent and in obedience to ancestral injunctions—treating ritual duty as a means of moral purification (pāpa-kṣaya).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: śrāddha is presented as an authorized, obligatory rite whose performance is explicitly said to ‘save from sin,’ emphasizing correct injunction (niyoga) and fidelity to the Pitṛs.