Shloka 4

Pātra-Nirṇaya and Ritual Procedure: Who to Feed, Who to Avoid, and Step-by-Step Śrāddha Performance

Devanagari script

एतान् नियोजयेच् छ्राद्धे पूर्वोक्तान् प्रथमं नृप ब्राह्मणान् पितृपुष्ट्यर्थम् अनुकल्पेष्व् अनन्तरान्

Transliteration

etān niyojayec chrāddhe pūrvoktān prathamaṃ nṛpa brāhmaṇān pitṛpuṣṭyartham anukalpeṣv anantarān

Translation

O King, in the śrāddha rite one should first appoint the Brāhmaṇas described earlier, for the nourishment and strengthening of the Pitṛs; and in subsidiary or alternative arrangements (anukalpa), one should appoint the others thereafter.

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative plural, Masculine); निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• नियोजयेत्: should appoint
• नियोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should appoint/engage)

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative singular, Neuter)

• पूर्वोक्तान्: previously mentioned
• पूर्वोक्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative plural, Masculine); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: 'previously said'

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'first')

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative singular, Masculine)

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative plural, Masculine)

• पितृपुष्ट्यर्थम्: for the nourishment of the ancestors
• पितृपुष्ट्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थम् इति द्वितीया-एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Accusative singular, Neuter) क्रियाविशेषणार्थे: 'for the sake of'

• अनुकल्पेषु: in the subsidiary/alternative rites
• अनुकल्पेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-बहुवचन (Locative plural, Masculine)

• अनन्तरान्: those next (after them)
• अनन्तरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative plural, Masculine)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing the exemplary listener as 'O King')

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Procedural order in appointing brāhmaṇas for śrāddha to benefit the Pitṛs

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha yields pitṛ-puṣṭi when performed with correct prioritization of qualified brāhmaṇas, with substitutions only in secondary contingencies.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When performing traditions (ancestral rites or memorials), emphasize sincerity and proper qualification over convenience; keep a clear hierarchy of responsibilities and alternatives.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual action is meaningful as niyama under the Lord’s governance; ordered duty becomes a form of seva rather than mere social custom.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the significance of selecting Brāhmaṇas in śrāddha according to the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the effectiveness of śrāddha is linked to first engaging the previously specified, properly qualified Brāhmaṇas, since the rite is aimed at pitṛpuṣṭi—supporting the ancestors.

How does Sage Parāśara explain anukalpa (alternative arrangements) in ritual practice?

He indicates an ordered method: primary eligibility comes first, and only afterward—when circumstances require—one may proceed with secondary or substitute arrangements (anukalpa).

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

While Vishnu is not named here, the Purana frames dharma—including śrāddha and social-ritual order—as part of the cosmic governance upheld under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty, where correct action sustains harmony across worlds and lineages.