Shloka 11

श्राद्ध-योग्य द्रव्य, निषेध, तथा गयाश्राद्ध-माहात्म्य (Śrāddha Materials, Prohibitions, and the Glory of Gayā)

Devanagari script

क्षीरम् एकशफानां यद् औष्ट्रम् आविकम् एव च मार्गं च माहिषं चैव वर्जयेच् छ्राद्धकर्मणि

Transliteration

kṣīram ekaśaphānāṃ yad auṣṭram āvikam eva ca mārgaṃ ca māhiṣaṃ caiva varjayec chrāddhakarmaṇi

Translation

In the rite of śrāddha, one should avoid milk obtained from single-hoofed animals, as well as camel’s milk, sheep’s milk, and likewise the milk of deer and of the buffalo.

Word by Word

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एकशफानाम्: of single-hoofed animals
• एकशफानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + शफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ/समास (एकः शफः येषां ते)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• औष्ट्रम्: camel (camel’s)
• औष्ट्रम्: Karma (Object-Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (क्षीरम् इति)

• आविकम्: sheep (sheep’s)
• आविकम्: Karma (Object-Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (क्षीरम् इति)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• मार्गम्: deer (mṛga)
• मार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• माहिषम्: buffalo (buffalo’s)
• माहिषम्: Karma (Object-Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (क्षीरम् इति, अव्यक्तम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• वर्जयेत्: one should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्राद्धकर्मणि: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य कर्म)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Which animal-derived substances are acceptable in śrāddha (milk restrictions)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual offerings require discernment about sources; certain milks are excluded to preserve śrāddha’s purity and traditional correctness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When performing rites, follow a trusted tradition/ācārya lineage for acceptable materials; prioritize purity and non-controversial offerings.

Vishishtadvaita: Qualified non-dualism emphasizes embodied practice: material choices in worship are meaningful because the world is real and belongs to the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of avoiding certain milks in the Vishnu Purana’s śrāddha instructions?

This verse specifies substances considered ritually unsuitable for ancestral offerings, emphasizing that śrāddha requires carefully chosen, pure materials to properly honor the Pitṛs.

How does Sage Parāśara explain correct śrāddha practice to Maitreya here?

Parāśara teaches by listing exclusions—identifying particular animal milks that should not be used—showing that dharma is upheld through precise observance, not merely intention.

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

Even in ritual detail, the Vishnu Purana situates dharma as part of the maintained cosmic order; proper śrāddha supports societal and spiritual harmony under Vishnu’s overarching governance.