Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

अग्निमान्निर्वपेत्पित्र्यं चरुं च सममुष्टिभिः पितृभ्यो निर्वपामीति सर्वं दक्षिणतो न्यसेत् //

Transliteration

agnimānnirvapetpitryaṃ caruṃ ca samamuṣṭibhiḥ pitṛbhyo nirvapāmīti sarvaṃ dakṣiṇato nyaset //

Translation

Setelah menyalakan api suci, ia hendaknya mempersembahkan caru untuk para Pitṛ dengan takaran segenggam yang sama, sambil mengucap, “Aku mempersembahkan kepada para Pitṛ.” Lalu ia menempatkan semuanya ke arah selatan.

Word by Word

• अग्निमान् (agnimān): having/with fire, having kindled the ritual fire

• निर्वपेत् (nirvapet): should offer/should place as an oblation

• पित्र्यं (pitryaṃ): belonging to the Pitṛs, ancestral

• चरुं (caruṃ): cooked sacrificial food/porridge offered in rites

• च (ca): and

• सम-मुष्टिभिः (sama-muṣṭibhiḥ): with equal handful measures

• पितृभ्यः (pitṛbhyaḥ): to the Pitṛs/ancestors

• निर्वपामि इति (nirvapāmi iti): saying ‘I offer’

• सर्वं (sarvaṃ): everything/the whole set of offerings/implements

• दक्षिणतः (dakṣiṇataḥ): to the south/southern side

• न्यसेत् (nyaset): should place/should set down.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu the dharma of rites)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Agni

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-yajña
• Ritual procedure
• Householder dharma
• Directional placement

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a practical śrāddha/Pitṛ-yajña ritual step—offering caru into fire for the ancestors and arranging items in the southern direction associated with the Pitṛs.

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

It directly reflects gṛhastha-dharma: maintaining Agni and performing Pitṛ obligations through properly measured oblations, with the correct mantra-intention (“I offer to the Pitṛs”) and correct ritual orientation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes dakṣiṇa (south) as the Pitṛ-direction: offerings and related items are set on the southern side, reinforcing directional discipline that also underlies Purāṇic ritual layout and sacred space arrangement.