Shloka 18

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

मृतबन्धोर् दशाहानि कुलस्यान्नं न भुज्यते दानं प्रतिग्रहो यज्ञः स्वाध्यायश् च निवर्तते

Transliteration

mṛtabandhor daśāhāni kulasyānnaṃ na bhujyate dānaṃ pratigraho yajñaḥ svādhyāyaś ca nivartate

Translation

When a kinsman has died, for ten days the family does not partake of its customary food; and giving and receiving, sacrifice (yajña), and even the recitation of sacred study (svādhyāya) are set aside.

Word by Word

• mṛta-bandhoḥ: of a deceased kinsman
• mṛta-bandhoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (मृत, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √mṛ) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (bandhu who is dead)

• daśa-ahāni: ten days
• daśa-ahāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (ten days)

• kulasya: of the family
• kulasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• bhujyate: is eaten
• bhujyate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (भुज्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• dānam: giving (charity)
• dānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pratigrahaḥ: accepting (gifts)
• pratigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yajñaḥ: sacrifice
• yajñaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• svādhyāyaḥ: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• svādhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• nivartate: ceases/comes to an end
• nivartate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (वृत्, धातु) with नि- (prefix)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Ten-day family observances after a kinsman’s death, including dietary restraint and suspension of ritual acts (dāna, yajña, svādhyāya)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bereavement entails a defined period of restraint in food and ritual activity, marking liminality and restoring purity through disciplined pause.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Create space for grief and reflection with simplified routines; postpone optional commitments and focus on essential duties and care for family.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual and study are not rejected but temporally regulated—dharma as ordered service to the Lord through proper timing (kāla-niyama).

FAQs

What is the significance of the ten-day mourning period (daśāha) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that after a relative’s death the household observes ten days in which normal eating and key religious-social acts are suspended, marking a period of aśauca and ritual reset.

How does Sage Parāśara explain what practices should pause during aśauca?

Parāśara lists the specific suspensions: ordinary household eating, giving and receiving gifts (dāna/pratigraha), sacrifice (yajña), and sacred recitation or study (svādhyāya).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the regulation expresses dharma as a sustaining order within Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—ritual life follows prescribed boundaries that preserve harmony in society and sacred practice.