Shloka 52

मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः

Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association

Devanagari script

श्रद्धावद्भिः कृतं यत्नाद् देवान् पितृपितामहान् न प्रीणयति तच् छ्राद्धं यद्य् एभिर् अवलोकितम्

Transliteration

śraddhāvadbhiḥ kṛtaṃ yatnād devān pitṛpitāmahān na prīṇayati tac chrāddhaṃ yady ebhir avalokitam

Translation

Even a Śrāddha performed with faith and utmost effort does not truly gladden the gods, nor the fathers and grandfathers, if it is carried out under the gaze of these improper onlookers.

Word by Word

• श्रद्धावद्भिः: by the faithful
• श्रद्धावद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: Karma (Object-description/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यत्नात्: with effort
• यत्नात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative: from/with effort)

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

• पितृपितामहान्: the fathers and grandfathers (ancestors)
• पितृपितामहान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (पितरः+पितामहाः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• प्रीणयति: pleases/satisfies
• प्रीणयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘to please/satisfy’)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देशक (agreeing with श्राद्धम्)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional: if)

• एभिः: by these (people)
• एभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental: by them)

• अवलोकितम्: seen/observed (by them)
• अवलोकितम्: Karta (Subject-description/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + लोक् (धातु) → अवलोकित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Ritual efficacy of śrāddha and the impurity caused by improper observers

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even faithful, careful śrāddha fails to please devas and pitṛs if conducted under the gaze/oversight of those deemed ritually improper, emphasizing the role of adhikāra and saṅga in rites.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Protect sacred practices: perform them with sincerity, proper setting, and supportive company; minimize performative or disruptive observers and cultivate inner reverence.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual action is not merely mechanical; its fruit depends on purity of intention and context, aligning karma with devotion to the Lord who receives offerings through ordained channels.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Ancestors (fathers and grandfathers)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śrāddha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse stresses that Śrāddha is not merely an offering but a dharmic act whose effectiveness depends on proper conditions; even sincere effort can fail to please Devas and Pitṛs if performed in an improper setting.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the conditions for an effective Śrāddha?

In the Śrāddha instructions, Parāśara emphasizes that faith and effort must be joined with correct observance—right place, right conduct, and avoidance of obstructing influences—so the rite reaches the intended divine and ancestral recipients.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava dharma: cosmic order is upheld when rites are performed as prescribed, and their fruits ultimately rest within Vishnu’s sovereign governance of karma and ritual law.