Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

एवं श्राद्धं बुधः कुर्यात् पैत्रं मातामहं तथा श्राद्धैर् आप्यायिता दद्युः सर्वकामान् पितामहाः

Transliteration

evaṃ śrāddhaṃ budhaḥ kuryāt paitraṃ mātāmahaṃ tathā śrāddhair āpyāyitā dadyuḥ sarvakāmān pitāmahāḥ

Translation

Thus should a wise person perform the śrāddha rites—both for the paternal line and likewise for the maternal grandfathers. Nourished and satisfied by these offerings, the forefathers bestow every desired blessing.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म—कुर्यात्

• बुधः: the wise man
• बुधः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• पैत्रम्: ancestral (for the fathers)
• पैत्रम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेषणम्

• मातामहम्: for the maternal grandfather line
• मातामहम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेषणम्

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक (also/likewise)

• श्राद्धैः: by means of śrāddhas
• श्राद्धैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आप्यायिताः: satisfied/nourished
• आप्यायिताः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√प्यै (धातु) → आप्यायित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पितामहाः इति विशेषणम्

• दद्युः: would give/bestow
• दद्युः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• सर्वकामान्: all desired things
• सर्वकामान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म—दद्युः

• पितामहाः: the forefathers/grandfathers
• पितामहाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper śrāddha for both paternal and maternal lines is a dharmic obligation whose offerings satisfy the pitṛs, who then confer auspicious results.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor both sides of lineage—remember ancestors, perform charity/food offerings in their name, and cultivate gratitude rather than entitlement.

Vishishtadvaita: Relational ontology: beings exist in networks of dependence; fulfilling pitṛ-ṛṇa is part of serving the Lord’s ordered body (jagat as His śarīra).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Mātāmaha (maternal ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of performing śrāddha for both paternal and maternal ancestors in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes completeness in ancestral duty: offerings should be made not only to the paternal line (paitra) but also to the maternal grandfathers (mātāmaha), ensuring the full ancestral network is honored and sustained.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the result of śrāddha in this chapter?

Parāśara states that when ancestors are ‘nourished’ (āpyāyitāḥ) through śrāddha, they respond by granting boons—described here as sarva-kāmān, the fulfillment of rightful desires—linking ritual duty to ordered well-being.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this specific verse, the teaching sits within Vishnu Purana’s dharma framework where sustaining cosmic and social order—through duties like śrāddha—aligns household life with the Supreme Reality’s governance of ṛta and dharma.