Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

पिण्डैर् मातामहांस् तद्वद् गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुतैः पूजयित्वा द्विजाग्र्याणां दद्याद् आचमनं ततः

Transliteration

piṇḍair mātāmahāṃs tadvad gandhamālyādisaṃyutaiḥ pūjayitvā dvijāgryāṇāṃ dadyād ācamanaṃ tataḥ

Translation

In the same manner, he should honor the maternal grandfathers with piṇḍa-offerings accompanied by fragrance, garlands, and the like; and having thus worshipped the foremost among the twice-born, he should then offer them water for ācamana.

Word by Word

• पिण्डैः: with piṇḍas
• पिण्डैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• मातामहान्: maternal grandfathers
• मातामहान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक/प्रकार (likewise)

• गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुतैः: with perfumes, garlands, etc.
• गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध-माल्य-आदि-संयुत (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘संयुत’; पूर्वपद-समाहार (‘गन्धमाल्यादिभिः’)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्यय-भाव; ‘having worshipped’

• द्विजाग्र्याणाम्: of the foremost Brahmins
• द्विजाग्र्याणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘द्विज’ + ‘अग्र्य’ (श्रेष्ठ)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आचमनम्: sipping-water/ācamanīya
• आचमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sequence marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thereafter)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Completing śrāddha by honoring maternal ancestors with scented/garlanded piṇḍas and then offering ācamanīya to foremost brāhmaṇas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha culminates in honoring maternal ancestors and showing due respect to brāhmaṇas, reflecting gratitude and ritual completeness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Balance remembrance (ancestors) with respect for living custodians of tradition (teachers/elders); conclude duties by caring for others’ well-being.

Vishishtadvaita: Service to devotees/teachers and remembrance of lineage are integrated duties within a personalist theistic framework where relationships are spiritually real.

Characters & Entities

• Mātāmaha (maternal grandfathers)
• Dvija (twice-born Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the significance of honoring the maternal grandfathers (mātāmaha) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse affirms that Śrāddha duties extend to the maternal line as well, maintaining gratitude and continuity of lineage through properly offered piṇḍas and respectful worship.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the correct sequence of offerings in Śrāddha rites here?

He describes a ritual order: first honor the maternal ancestors with piṇḍas and auspicious items like fragrance and garlands, then formally respect the Brahmin recipients by offering ācamana afterward.

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

Even in detailed ritual instruction, the Vishnu Purana frames dharma as a stabilizing force within cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu, so correct ancestral rites participate in that larger sacred governance.