Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

दत्त्वाशीः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद् द्विजेभ्यः प्राङ्मुखो बुधः अघोराः पितरः सन्तु सन्त्वित्युक्तः पुनर् द्विजैः //

Transliteration

dattvāśīḥ pratigṛhṇīyād dvijebhyaḥ prāṅmukho budhaḥ aghorāḥ pitaraḥ santu santvityuktaḥ punar dvijaiḥ //

Translation

Setelah memberi persembahan, orang bijak hendaknya menghadap ke timur dan menerima berkat dari para dvija; para dvija kembali mengucapkan: “Semoga para Pitṛ menjadi tanpa kengerian, tenteram; semoga demikian.”

Word by Word

• dattvā: having given (after offering gifts/fees)

• āśīḥ: blessings/benedictions

• pratigṛhṇīyāt: should accept/receive

• dvijebhyaḥ: from the twice-born (Brahmins)

• prāṅmukhaḥ: facing east

• budhaḥ: the wise/learned person

• aghorāḥ: non-terrible, pacified, free from dread (auspicious)

• pitaraḥ: the Pitṛs/ancestors

• santu: may they be

• santv iti: ‘may they be so’—thus

• uktaḥ: said/uttered

• punaḥ: again

• dvijaiḥ: by the twice-born (Brahmins).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating prescriptive Śrāddha procedure as taught in the Matsya Purana tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Dvija (Brahmins)

Tags

• Shraddha
• Pitrs
• Ritual
• Dharma
• Blessings

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on Śrāddha protocol, emphasizing auspicious orientation (facing east) and the pacification of the Pitṛs through blessings.

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

It frames a householder’s dharma in ancestral rites: after giving the prescribed gifts to Brahmins, one should respectfully receive their benedictions, aiming for the ancestors’ peace (aghora) and welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the prescribed directionality—receiving blessings while facing east—and the specific blessing formula invoking the Pitṛs as “aghora” (pacified/auspicious).