Matsya Purana — Pitṛ Worlds, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

यत्राभ्युदयशालासु मोदन्ते श्राद्धदायिनः यांश् च देवासुरगणा गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः //

Transliteration

yatrābhyudayaśālāsu modante śrāddhadāyinaḥ yāṃś ca devāsuragaṇā gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ //

Translation

എവിടെ അഭ്യുദയശാലകളിൽ ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്യുന്നവർ ആനന്ദിക്കുന്നു; അവിടെ ദേവാസുരഗണങ്ങളും ഗന്ധർവ-അപ്സരസ്സുകളുടെ സംഘങ്ങളും കൂടി വിഹരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• yatra: where

• abhyudaya-śālāsu: in halls for auspicious ceremonies/prosperity-rites

• modante: rejoice, delight

• śrāddha-dāyinaḥ: givers/performers of śrāddha offerings

• yānś ca: and whom/where also

• deva-asura-gaṇāḥ: groups/hosts of gods and asuras

• gandharva-apsarasām gaṇāḥ: companies of Gandharvas and Apsarases

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the sanctity/attractiveness of the auspicious ritual setting

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Asuras
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Shraddha
• Ritual
• SacredHalls
• Punya
• Devas

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya directly; it highlights sacred, auspicious ritual spaces where merit-bearing acts like Śrāddha generate a spiritually attractive atmosphere even for celestial beings.

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

It supports the householder’s dharma of performing Śrāddha and maintaining proper venues for auspicious rites; such acts are portrayed as joy-giving and merit-producing, reinforcing social-religious responsibility upheld by rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to the abhyudaya-śālā—an auspicious ceremonial hall—as a proper setting for Śrāddha; architecturally, it implies designated, ritually pure spaces within a settlement/house where rites are performed according to tradition.