Shloka 34

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यन्तास् तु याः क्रियाः ताः पूर्वा मध्यमा मासि मास्य् एकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताः

Transliteration

ādāhavāryāyudhādisparśādyantās tu yāḥ kriyāḥ tāḥ pūrvā madhyamā māsi māsy ekoddiṣṭasaṃjñitāḥ

Translation

अग्नि, जल और नियत उपकरणों के स्पर्श आदि से आरम्भ होकर अंत तक जो क्रियाएँ होती हैं, वे ‘पूर्व’ कहलाती हैं। और जो मास के पूर्वार्ध या मध्यभाग में की जाएँ, वे उसी मास में ‘एकोद्दिष्ट’ नाम से जानी जाती हैं।

Word by Word

आदाहवार्यायुधादिस्पर्शाद्यन्ताःbeginning with cremation etc. and ending with the final touches

तुindeed

याःwhich

क्रियाःrites

ताःthose

पूर्वाःare the initial (rites)

मध्यमाः(and) the intermediate (rites)

मासिin a month

मासिmonth by month

एकोद्दिष्टसंज्ञिताःcalled ‘ekoddiṣṭa’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Parāśara

Maitreya

Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the significance of Ekoddiṣṭa in the Vishnu Purana?

It designates a śrāddha aimed at one specifically intended departed soul, defined here by its complete ritual sequence and its performance timing within the month.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of these rites?

He frames them as a full continuum—from the opening consecratory contacts involving fire, water, and implements, through to the concluding acts—then assigns the technical name based on when in the month they are performed.

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

Even in ritual instruction, the Purāṇa presents dharma and ancestral offerings as part of the ordered universe sustained by Vishnu, where correct rite and right time participate in maintaining cosmic and social harmony.