Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

शिवनेत्रोद्भवं यस्मात् तस्मात्तत्पितृवल्लभम् अमङ्गलं तद्यत्नेन देवकार्येषु वर्जयेत् //

Transliteration

śivanetrodbhavaṃ yasmāt tasmāttatpitṛvallabham amaṅgalaṃ tadyatnena devakāryeṣu varjayet //

Translation

Karena dikatakan berasal dari mata Śiva, maka hal itu menjadi kesayangan para Pitṛ. Namun karena bersifat tidak mujur, hendaknya dengan sungguh-sungguh dihindari dalam upacara bagi para dewa.

Word by Word

• śiva-netra-udbhavam: arisen from Śiva’s eye

• yasmāt: since/because

• tasmāt: therefore

• tat: that (substance)

• pitṛ-vallabham: beloved of the Pitṛs/ancestors

• amaṅgalam: inauspicious

• tat: that

• yatnena: with care/effort

• deva-kāryeṣu: in acts/rites for the gods

• varjayet: should avoid/abstain from

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Pitrs (ancestral spirits)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ritual purity
• Auspiciousness
• Devakarya
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it lays down a ritual rule distinguishing what is suitable for deva-rites versus what is associated with Pitṛ-worship.

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

It advises careful discrimination in ritual practice: a householder or king sponsoring worship should avoid inauspicious, Pitṛ-associated items in ceremonies meant for the gods, preserving śubha (auspicious) conditions in public and domestic rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it marks a clear boundary between deva-kārya and pitṛ-kārya: items regarded as Pitṛ-beloved (and thus inauspicious for deva worship) should be excluded from deity rituals—an important purity rule in Matsya Purana-style temple and household worship.