Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तिलो ऽसीति तिलान्कुर्याद् गन्धपुष्पादिकं पुनः पात्रं वनस्पतिमयं तथा पर्णमयं पुनः //

Transliteration

tilo 'sīti tilānkuryād gandhapuṣpādikaṃ punaḥ pātraṃ vanaspatimayaṃ tathā parṇamayaṃ punaḥ //

Translation

สวดว่า “ติโลऽสิ” แล้วจัดเตรียมงาเพื่อการถวาย จากนั้นเติมเครื่องหอม ดอกไม้ และสิ่งอื่นอีกครั้ง ภาชนะควรทำจากวัสดุพืช และควรมีภาชนะที่ทำจากใบไม้ด้วย

Word by Word

• tilo ’si iti: “you are sesame” (a ritual utterance)

• tilān: sesame seeds

• kuryāt: should make/prepare/offer

• gandha: fragrance, perfume (sandal etc.)

• puṣpa: flowers

• ādikam: and other similar items

• punaḥ: again/furthermore

• pātram: vessel, container (ritual receptacle)

• vanaspati-mayam: made of vegetation/wood/plant substance

• tathā: likewise/also

• parṇa-mayam: made of leaves (leaf-bowl/leaf-vessel)

• punaḥ: again (emphatic repetition)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Tila (sesame)

Tags

• Dāna
• Śrāddha
• Tila
• Ritual procedure
• Upacāra

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on dharmic ritual procedure—how sesame offerings are to be prepared with auspicious adjuncts like fragrance and flowers, and what materials are suitable for the ritual vessel.

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

It gives practical guidance for a householder (and a king as ritual patron) on correct performance of rites involving tila—using proper mantric designation (“tilo ’si”), adding customary upacāras (perfume, flowers), and selecting pure, readily available plant-based containers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies acceptable pātras (containers): those made of plant/wood materials and leaf-vessels—highlighting purity, simplicity, and suitability of natural materials in śrāddha/dāna contexts.