Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

तेषाम् अभावे सर्वेषां समानोदकसंततिः मातृपक्षस्य पिण्डेन संबद्धा ये जलेन वा

Transliteration

teṣām abhāve sarveṣāṃ samānodakasaṃtatiḥ mātṛpakṣasya piṇḍena saṃbaddhā ye jalena vā

Translation

If all those are absent, then one should proceed according to the samānodaka line—those connected by the same water-libation. Likewise, relatives on the mother’s side, linked either by the piṇḍa offering or by the water oblation, are to be included.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• abhāve: in the absence
• abhāve: Adhikaraṇa (Condition locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘तेषाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• samāna-udaka-saṃtatiḥ: the line of those sharing the same water (samanodaka kin)
• samāna-udaka-saṃtatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃtati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mātṛ-pakṣasya: of the maternal side
• mātṛ-pakṣasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• piṇḍena: by the funeral cake (piṇḍa)
• piṇḍena: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• saṃbaddhāḥ: connected/related
• saṃbaddhāḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-bandh (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘संबद्ध’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ये’ इति सर्वनामस्य विधेय

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• jalena: by water
• jalena: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Fallback rules when primary relatives are absent: samānodaka relations and inclusion of maternal-side connections by piṇḍa/water link

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: comprehensive, inclusive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When closer heirs are lacking, śrāddha responsibility extends to samānodaka kin and even maternal relations connected through piṇḍa and water oblations.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Recognize extended family/community obligations, especially for those without direct heirs; ensure care and remembrance are shared rather than abandoned.

Vishishtadvaita: Qualified non-dualism foregrounds relationality: persons exist in networks of dependence; dharma extends outward so no ‘member’ of the Lord’s ordered community is left without rites.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of samānodaka in the Vishnu Purana’s Śrāddha teachings?

It defines an eligible circle of relatives connected through the same water-oblation lineage, ensuring offerings continue even when closer claimants are absent.

How does Sage Parāśara explain who receives offerings when primary relatives are not available?

He extends eligibility to the samānodaka line and also recognizes maternal-side connections established through piṇḍa or water offerings.

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

By prescribing dharmic order for Śrāddha, the Purana frames ritual duty as part of cosmic governance—Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty expressed through righteous social and ancestral continuity.