Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

निधाय दर्भान्विधिवद् दक्षिणाग्रान् प्रयत्नतः सर्ववर्णेन चान्नेन पिण्डांस्तु पितृयज्ञवत् //

Transliteration

nidhāya darbhānvidhivad dakṣiṇāgrān prayatnataḥ sarvavarṇena cānnena piṇḍāṃstu pitṛyajñavat //

Translation

दर्भान् विधिवद् दक्षिणाग्रान् प्रयत्नतः निधाय, सर्ववर्णेनान्नेन पिण्डान् पितृयज्ञवद् विन्यसेत्॥

Word by Word

• निधाय (nidhāya): having placed/arranged

• दर्भान् (darbhān): darbha (kuśa) grasses

• विधिवत् (vidhivat): according to prescribed rule

• दक्षिणाग्रान् (dakṣiṇāgrān): with tips pointing to the south

• प्रयत्नतः (prayatnataḥ): carefully/with effort

• सर्ववर्णेन (sarva-varṇena): with all kinds/varieties (of food)

• च (ca): and

• अन्नेन (annena): with food, cooked rice/foodstuff

• पिण्डान् (piṇḍān): rice-balls/food offerings (piṇḍas)

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• पितृयज्ञवत् (pitṛyajñavat): as in the Pitṛ-yajña, in the manner of ancestral offerings

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• darbha (kuśa grass)
• Pitṛyajña
• piṇḍa

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛyajña
• Ritual procedure
• Darbha
• Pinda offering

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on correct śrāddha/Pitṛyajña procedure—specifically the south-oriented darbha and preparation of piṇḍa offerings.

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

It presents a householder’s dharma: honoring ancestors through properly performed Pitṛyajña, using prescribed ritual items (darbha) and correctly prepared food offerings (piṇḍas).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the directional rule (south-pointed darbha, associated with the Pitṛs) and the formal preparation of piṇḍas ‘as in Pitṛyajña,’ emphasizing precise ritual orthopraxy.