Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच श्रुत्वैतत् सर्वम् अखिलं मनुः पप्रच्छ केशवम् श्राद्धकालं च विविधं श्राद्धभेदं तथैव च //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca śrutvaitat sarvam akhilaṃ manuḥ papraccha keśavam śrāddhakālaṃ ca vividhaṃ śrāddhabhedaṃ tathaiva ca //

Translation

Sūta dit : Après avoir entendu tout cela dans son intégralité, Manu interrogea Keśava sur les divers moments convenables pour accomplir les rites de śrāddha, ainsi que sur les différentes sortes de śrāddha.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta

• uvāca: said

• śrutvā: having heard

• etat: this

• sarvam: all

• akhilam: entirely/in full

• manuḥ: Manu

• papraccha: asked/inquired

• keśavam: Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• śrāddha-kālam: the time/occasion for śrāddha

• ca: and

• vividham: various

• śrāddha-bhedam: the classifications/types of śrāddha

• tathā eva: likewise/just so

• ca: and

Speaker

• Sūta

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Manu
• Keśava (Vishnu)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs
• Ritual Dharma
• Gṛhastha Duties
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it transitions the narrative into ritual instruction, introducing Manu’s inquiry about śrāddha timing and types.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By asking about śrāddha-kāla and śrāddha-bheda, Manu highlights a core gṛhastha duty: maintaining ancestral rites as part of dharma, which also models ideal conduct for rulers and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it frames an upcoming technical discussion on when śrāddha should be performed and how different śrāddha rites are classified.