Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types

Devanagari script

नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं श्राद्धमुच्यते नित्यं तावत्प्रवक्ष्यामि अर्घ्यावाहनवर्जितम् //

Transliteration

nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ trividhaṃ śrāddhamucyate nityaṃ tāvatpravakṣyāmi arghyāvāhanavarjitam //

Translation

شرادھ تین قسم کا کہا گیا ہے—نِتیہ، نَیمِتِک اور کامیہ۔ پہلے میں نِتیہ شرادھ بیان کرتا ہوں، جو اَर्घیہ (ارغیہ) اور آواہن (دعوتِ حضور) سے خالی ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• नित्यं (nityaṃ): daily/regular

• नैमित्तिकं (naimittikaṃ): occasional, prompted by a specific cause (e.g., tithi, death anniversary, eclipse)

• काम्यं (kāmyaṃ): performed for a desired result

• त्रिविधं (trividhaṃ): threefold

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): ancestral rite offered with faith

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/is called

• नित्यं (nityaṃ): the daily type

• तावत् (tāvat): first/for now

• प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi): I will explain

• अर्घ्य (arghya): respectful water-offering

• आवाहन (āvāhana): formal invocation/calling (of pitṛs/deities)

• वर्जितम् (varjitam): omitted/without.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Arghya
• Āvāhana

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-dharma
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual procedure
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it classifies śrāddha (ancestor rites) and introduces the daily (nitya) form, focusing on ritual discipline rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It directly supports gṛhastha-dharma: maintaining regular ancestral observances. Even rulers are expected to uphold pitṛ-dharma, but the verse specifically frames a practical, daily śrāddha model.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: the nitya-śrāddha described here is performed without arghya and without formal āvāhana, implying a simplified daily rite distinct from more elaborate ceremonial śrāddhas.