Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

पितृभ्यः प्रथमं भक्त्या तन्मनस्को नरेश्वर सुस्वधेत्य् आशिषा युक्तां दद्याच् छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम्

Transliteration

pitṛbhyaḥ prathamaṃ bhaktyā tanmanasko nareśvara susvadhety āśiṣā yuktāṃ dadyāc chaktyā ca dakṣiṇām

Translation

હે નરેશ્વર! એકાગ્ર ભક્તિથી પ્રથમ પિતૃઓને અર્પણ કરવું; અને ‘સુ-સ્વધા’ એવો મંગલ આશીર્વાદ ઉચ્ચારી, પોતાની શક્તિ મુજબ દક્ષિણા આપવી।

Word by Word

पितृभ्यःto the ancestors

प्रथमम्first

भक्त्याwith devotion

तन्मनस्कःhaving the mind fixed on that (rite)

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

सुस्वधा“su-svadhā” (auspicious svadhā)

इतिthus

आशिषाwith a blessing

युक्ताम्accompanied/combined (with it)

दद्यात्should give

शक्त्याaccording to ability

चand

दक्षिणाम्the gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing the listener as ‘nareśvara’ in the received verse-style)

Characters & Entities

Pitṛs (Ancestors)

Dakṣiṇā (ritual gift)

FAQs

What is the significance of offering first to the Pitṛs in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse places the Pitṛ-offering at the beginning of the rite, emphasizing devotion and correct order as essential to dharma and to the continuity of family lineage.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of ‘svadhā’ in ancestor rites?

Here, the rite is to be accompanied by the auspicious utterance “su-svadhā,” indicating that the verbal formula (mantric blessing) properly ‘seals’ the offering for the Pitṛs.

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

Even when discussing śrāddha details, the Purana frames dharma as part of the sustaining cosmic order ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who upholds the world through right conduct.