Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

त्रीणि श्राद्धे पवित्राणि दौहित्रः कुतपस् तिलाः रजतस्य तथा दानं कथासंदर्शनादिकम्

Transliteration

trīṇi śrāddhe pavitrāṇi dauhitraḥ kutapas tilāḥ rajatasya tathā dānaṃ kathāsaṃdarśanādikam

Translation

In the Śrāddha rite, three things are declared especially purifying: the daughter’s son, the sacred (kutapa) time, and sesame seeds. Likewise, the gifting of silver, and acts such as hearing and beholding sacred narration and related observances, are commended as sanctifying supports to the rite.

Word by Word

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पवित्राणि इति विशेषणम्/संख्याविशेषणम्

• श्राद्धे: in/for the śrāddha
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• पवित्राणि: purifiers/sacred things
• पवित्राणि: Karta/Predicate nominal
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• दौहित्रः: daughter’s son (grandson)
• दौहित्रः: Karta/Predicate nominal (member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पवित्राणि इत्यस्य उदाहरणम् (one of the three)

• कुतपः: kuṭapa (a sacred vessel/seat; ritual implement)
• कुतपः: Karta/Predicate nominal (member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पवित्राणि इत्यस्य उदाहरणम्

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta/Predicate nominal (member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पवित्राणि इत्यस्य उदाहरणम्

• रजतस्य: of silver
• रजतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चय (also)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karta/Predicate nominal
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (additional item mentioned)

• कथासंदर्शनादिकम्: such as narration and viewing (of sacred stories), etc.
• कथासंदर्शनादिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + संदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आदि’ सहित समाहारः—‘and the like’; दानम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha purity is strengthened by specific sanctifiers—dauhitra, kutapa time, and sesame—along with gifts like silver and pious listening/seeing of sacred narratives.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose appropriate timing for remembrance rites, keep them simple but sincere, add charity, and include śāstra-kathā/recitation to elevate intention.

Vishishtadvaita: Kriyā joined with śravaṇa: devotion grows when ritual action is supported by hearing sacred narration, aligning mind and act in service to the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “three purifiers” in Śrāddha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that a daughter’s son (dauhitra), the kutapa (auspicious sacred time), and sesame seeds are especially purifying supports for performing Śrāddha effectively.

How does Sage Parāśara explain merit-enhancing acts connected to Śrāddha?

Along with core ritual purity factors, Parāśara adds that giving silver (rajata-dāna) and engaging with sacred narration (kathā—hearing/seeing) and similar observances further sanctify and strengthen the rite.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, the teaching frames Śrāddha as part of dharma that sustains cosmic and social order—an order ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the supreme preserver in Vaishnava theology.