Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

तथेति चोक्ते तैर् विप्रैः प्रार्थनीयास् तथाशिषः पश्चाद् विसर्जयेद् देवान् पूर्वं पैत्रान् महामते

Transliteration

tatheti cokte tair vipraiḥ prārthanīyās tathāśiṣaḥ paścād visarjayed devān pūrvaṃ paitrān mahāmate

Translation

When the Brahmins have replied, “So be it,” one should request their blessings. Thereafter, O great-minded one, the gods are to be dismissed—yet the ancestral rite must be concluded first.

Word by Word

• तथा: so/thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• उक्ते: when (it is) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/भावे प्रयोगः; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विप्रैः: by the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रैः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• प्रार्थनीयाः: to be requested
• प्रार्थनीयाः: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु) → प्रार्थनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थ (to be requested)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• आशिषः: blessings
• आशिषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal adverb)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पैत्रान्: the ancestral (manes)
• पैत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How to conclude śrāddha: receiving ‘tathāstu’, requesting blessings, and the correct order of visarjana for devas vs pitṛs

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: procedural and clarifying

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on respectful sequence: after the priests’ assent, one seeks their blessings, and dismisses the devas only after completing the pitṛ-portion first.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor process and elders/teachers: seek blessings and complete primary obligations before moving to secondary tasks.

Vishishtadvaita: Brahmins and devas function as instruments within the Lord’s dharmic order; correct sequence reflects harmony (niyati) under His governance.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Devas
• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of the order of dismissal (visarjana) in Śrāddha according to the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes ritual precedence: the ancestral rite (Pitṛ-kārya) is completed first, and only afterward are the Devas formally dismissed, preserving the intended dharmic sequence of the ceremony.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of Brahmins in this part of the rite?

Parāśara indicates that once the Brahmins assent (“tathā iti”), the performer should request their blessings—showing that the rite is sealed by their benediction and approval within the prescribed tradition.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context, even though He is not named in the verse?

In the Vishnu Purana’s dharma-teaching sections, correct ritual order is presented as alignment with cosmic sovereignty and sacred law upheld by the Supreme (Vishnu); honoring Pitrs and Devas properly reflects living in harmony with that divine order.