Varaha Purana 14.40 — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 40

Ritual Procedure for Śrāddha: Sequence, Eligibility, and Offerings to Ancestors

Devanagari script

मातामहानामप्येवं सह देवैः क्रमः स्मृतः । भोजने च स्वशक्त्या च दाने तद्वद्विसर्जने । आपादशौचनात् पूर्वं कुर्यादेव द्विजन्मसु ॥ १४.४० ॥

Transliteration

mātāmahānām apy evaṁ saha devaiḥ kramaḥ smṛtaḥ | bhojane ca svaśaktyā ca dāne tadvad visarjane | āpādaśaucanāt pūrvaṁ kuryād eva dvijanmasu || 14.40 ||

Translation

Так же помнится установленная последовательность и для дедов по матери, вместе с божествами. В угощении и в дарении — по мере сил — и также в заключительном отпускании следует совершать это для дважды-рождённых прежде омовения стоп.

Word by Word

• मातामहानाम्: of the maternal grandfathers
• मातामहानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive: 'of the maternal grandfathers'

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय: 'also/even'

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक: 'thus/in this manner'

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Associative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (with + instrumental)

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: सहकारक (Associative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental with सह

• क्रमः: the sequence/order
• क्रमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त, √स्मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle: 'is remembered/declared'

• भोजने: in feeding
• भोजने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative: 'in feeding/at the meal'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• स्व-शक्त्या: according to one’s own capacity
• स्व-शक्त्या: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य शक्तिः; instrumental: 'according to one’s own ability'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• दाने: in giving
• दाने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative: 'in giving'

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'likewise'

• विसर्जने: in dismissal
• विसर्जने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative: 'in dismissal'

• आ-पाद-शौचनात्: before the foot-washing/cleansing
• आ-पाद-शौचनात्: अपादान (Apadana/Source-point)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + शौचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: आपादम् (up to the feet) + शौचनम्; ablative: 'before cleansing up to the feet'

• पूर्वम्: before
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; 'before'

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'should do/perform'

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis): 'indeed/only'

• द्वि-जन्मसु: among the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्वि-जन्मसु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: द्वे जन्मनी यस्य/येषाम् (twice-born); locative plural: 'among the twice-born'

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Apply the same sequence for maternal grandfathers along with deities; in feeding, giving, and dismissal do as prescribed, and complete these acts for the twice-born before washing the feet.","karmic_consequence":"Observing maternal-line obligations and correct timing is said to broaden ancestral satisfaction and merit; omission/incorrect timing is treated as śrāddha-doṣa affecting results."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"social-ethical dharma","core_concept":"Dharma is relational and comprehensive: obligations extend to both paternal and maternal lines, and to guests/brāhmaṇas through respectful service.","practical_application":"Include maternal ancestors in śrāddha; feed and give within means; do not interrupt prescribed steps with ancillary acts like foot-washing until the proper point."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Ancestral Rites (Śrāddha)","Social Dharma"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: dharma

Geographic Context

Type: domestic sacred space

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 14.14 (mātāmaha-krama)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha meal is being served to brāhmaṇas; offerings are arranged for paternal and maternal ancestors; attendants hold a foot-washing vessel waiting until the correct ritual moment.","item_prompts":["food service (anna) to brāhmaṇas","separate markers for paternal/maternal offerings","dakṣiṇā items","pāda-prakṣālana vessel and towel held aside","darbha/tilā arrangement"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Layered ritual tableau: servers, seated brāhmaṇas, and waiting foot-wash attendant; strong linework; subdued colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Ornate feast scene; gold highlights on vessels and plates; clear separation of ritual zones; symmetrical arrangement.","mysore_prompt":"Detailed cuisine/utensils; gentle expressions; emphasis on timing (attendant paused with foot-wash pot).","pahari_prompt":"Domestic hospitality scene with delicate detailing; warm palette; narrative clarity showing ‘before foot-washing’ pause."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, orderly","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, explanatory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dharma
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Dharma-oriented ritual protocol within Purāṇic literature, indicating how ancestral rites were systematized (order, offerings, and formal dismissal) and extended to maternal-line ancestors alongside deities.

Which geographic location is identified?

No explicit geographic location is named in this verse; the content is procedural and ritual rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Ritual generosity should be proportionate to one’s means (svaśaktyā), and actions should follow an established order (krama), emphasizing disciplined conduct and measured giving.