Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः श्राद्धं कृतं तेन समाः सहस्रं रहस्यमेतत्पितरो वदन्ति //

Transliteration

pānīyamapyatra tilairvimiśraṃ dadyātpitṛbhyaḥ prayato manuṣyaḥ śrāddhaṃ kṛtaṃ tena samāḥ sahasraṃ rahasyametatpitaro vadanti //

Translation

Di sini, bahkan air yang dicampur biji wijen hendaknya dipersembahkan oleh orang yang berdisiplin kepada para Pitṛ (leluhur). Dengan perbuatan itu, seakan-akan śrāddha dilakukan selama seribu tahun; inilah ajaran rahasia, kata para Pitṛ.

Word by Word

• pānīyam: water (drinkable water)

• api: even/also

• atra: here/in this rite/context

• tilaiḥ: with sesame seeds

• vimiśram: mixed/blended

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• pitṛbhyaḥ: to the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• prayataḥ: restrained, purified, attentive

• manuṣyaḥ: a person/human

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite/ancestral offering

• kṛtam: done/performed

• tena: by that (act)

• samāḥ: years

• sahasram: a thousand

• rahasyam: secret/esoteric point

• etat: this

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors

• vadanti: say/declare.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha
• Tila (sesame)
• Pānīya (water)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Tila-dāna
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual-merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on pitṛ-related ritual merit, emphasizing that even a simple sesame-water offering can yield immense spiritual fruit.

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

It highlights gṛhastha-dharma (and by extension rāja-dharma) through regular honoring of ancestors: a disciplined person should perform pitṛ-offerings, and even minimal resources (water with sesame) suffice when offered with purity and intent.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the primacy of tila-mixed water in pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha contexts, presented as a potent substitute or enhancement—so effective that it is praised as equal to a thousand years of śrāddha.