Shloka 37
पूर्वाः क्रियास् तु कर्तव्याः पुत्राद्यैर् एव चोत्तराः दौहित्रैर् वा नरश्रेष्ठ कार्यास् तत्तनयैस् तथा
pūrvāḥ kriyās tu kartavyāḥ putrādyair eva cottarāḥ dauhitrair vā naraśreṣṭha kāryās tattanayais tathā
The earlier rites are to be performed only by sons and the like; but the later rites, O best of men, may be duly carried out by a daughter’s son, or likewise by his sons as well.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Śrāddha/antyeṣṭi: who is qualified to perform the pūrvā/uttarā (earlier/later) funerary rites, including the role of daughter's son
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Funerary obligations are graded by kinship: initial rites belong to sons, while later observances may be discharged by a daughter's son and his descendants.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Honor elders through responsible end-of-life rites and shared family duty, ensuring continuity of care even when direct sons are absent.
Vishishtadvaita: Household dharma is treated as service within the Lord’s order (niyati), where social roles sustain cosmic harmony under His governance.
FAQs
This verse recognizes the daughter’s son as an authorized performer for the later stages of ancestral rites, ensuring continuity of offerings when the primary line (sons) is unavailable or for specified later observances.
Parāśara distinguishes ritual sequence: the earlier rites are assigned to sons (and equivalent eligible descendants), while later rites may be performed by the daughter’s son and then by his sons, preserving ritual succession.
Within the Vishnu Purana’s dharma-teaching, orderly performance of rites sustains cosmic and social harmony under Vishnu’s sovereignty, where dharma functions as a practical expression of the Supreme Lord’s governing order.