Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

आधत्त पितरो गर्भम् अत्र संतानवर्धनम् तावदुच्छेषणं तिष्ठेद् यावद्विप्रा विसर्जिताः //

Transliteration

ādhatta pitaro garbham atra saṃtānavardhanam tāvaduccheṣaṇaṃ tiṣṭhed yāvadviprā visarjitāḥ //

Translation

یہاں پِتر (آبائی ارواح) حمل ٹھہرنے اور اولاد کی افزائش عطا کرتے ہیں۔ اس لیے جب تک برہمنوں کو باقاعدہ رخصت نہ کیا جائے، اُچّھِشٹ (بچا ہوا اَنّ) وہیں قائم رکھا جائے۔

Word by Word

• ādhatta: place/implant/bestow

• pitaro (pitaraḥ): the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• garbham: embryo, conception

• atra: here, in this rite/context

• saṃtāna-vardhanam: increase of lineage/progeny

• tāvat: until then/so long

• ucchēṣaṇam: remnants, leavings (of food/offerings)

• tiṣṭhet: should remain/should be kept

• yāvat: until

• viprāḥ: Brahmins

• visarjitāḥ: dismissed/seen off with leave

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely ritual guidance context)

Entities Mentioned

• Pitṛs
• Vipras (Brahmins)

Tags

• Shraddha
• Pitṛs
• Gṛhastha Dharma
• Anna-dāna
• Ritual etiquette

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches ritual causality—honoring the Pitṛs through proper śrāddha etiquette is said to support conception and the growth of one’s lineage.

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

It instructs the householder (and by extension a ruler who models dharma) to maintain śrāddha discipline: keep the ritual food-remnants undisturbed and complete the rite properly by formally dismissing the invited Brahmins.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: the ‘ucchēṣaṇa’ (remnants) must remain until the vipras are respectfully sent off, reflecting strict procedural timing in ancestral rites and Brahmin-feeding protocols.