Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

द्वौ मासौ मत्स्यमांसेन त्रीन्मासान्हारिणेन तु औरभ्रेणाथ चतुरः शाकुनेनाथ पञ्च वै //

Transliteration

dvau māsau matsyamāṃsena trīnmāsānhāriṇena tu aurabhreṇātha caturaḥ śākunenātha pañca vai //

Translation

माशाच्या मांसाने दोन महिने, हरिणाच्या मांसाने तीन महिने, मेंढीच्या मांसाने चार महिने आणि पक्ष्यांच्या मांसाने पाच महिने (पितर तृप्त होतात)।

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two

• मासौ: months

• मत्स्य-मांसेन: with fish-flesh

• त्रीन्: three

• मासान्: months (as a duration)

• हारिणेन: with deer-flesh (of a hariṇa/deer)

• तु: indeed/but

• औरभ्रेण: with sheep-flesh (aurabhra)

• अथ: then/next

• चतुरः: four

• शाकुनेन: with bird-flesh (śakuna = bird)

• अथ: then

• पञ्च: five

• वै: certainly/indeed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Dharma
• Ahara-niyama
• Vrata
• Tapas
• Householder duties

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharmic food-discipline by listing allowable sustenance durations for different kinds of meat during regulated living.

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

It frames controlled consumption as part of dharma: a householder (and by extension a ruler maintaining social order) should follow regulated, limited diet practices rather than indulgence, aligning food with discipline and rule-bound livelihood.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on āhāra-niyama—measured dietary regulation as an aid to vrata/tapas observance.