Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

भोजयेदीश्वरो ऽपीह न कुर्याद्विस्तरं बुधः दैवपूर्वं नियोज्याथ विप्रानर्घ्यादिना बुधः //

Transliteration

bhojayedīśvaro 'pīha na kuryādvistaraṃ budhaḥ daivapūrvaṃ niyojyātha viprānarghyādinā budhaḥ //

Translation

Même un seigneur puissant doit, en cette matière, se borner à nourrir les invités sans étalage. Après avoir d’abord accompli les offrandes aux dieux, le sage doit faire asseoir et servir les brāhmaṇa, les honorant par l’arghya et les rites d’accueil usuels.

Word by Word

• bhojayet: should feed/offer a meal

• īśvaraḥ api: even a lord/ruler

• iha: here/in this context

• na kuryāt: should not do

• vistaram: elaboration/expansive display/ostentation

• budhaḥ: the wise man

• daiva-pūrvam: with the divine offerings done first/after first attending to the gods

• niyojya atha: having arranged/appointed then

• viprān: Brahmanas

• arghya-ādinā: with arghya and other (honors/rites)

• budhaḥ: the wise man

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, didactic narration style)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmanas (Vipras)
• Devas (Daiva offerings)
• Arghya (ritual honor)

Tags

• Dharma
• Dana
• Atithi-satkara
• Ritual procedure
• Brahmana-honoring

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on dharmic conduct in ritual hospitality—prioritizing divine offerings and respectful feeding over display.

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

It instructs that even rulers should practice restrained, principled generosity: perform offerings to the gods first, then honor Brahmanas with proper welcomes (arghya) and provide food without ostentation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is procedural: daiva-pūrva (offer to the gods first) and vipra-satkara via arghya—standardized hospitality elements within Vedic-Puranic ritual etiquette.