Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

युगादयः स्मृता ह्य् एता दत्तस्याक्षय्यकारिकाः तथा मन्वन्तरादौ च देयं श्राद्धं विजानता //

Transliteration

yugādayaḥ smṛtā hy etā dattasyākṣayyakārikāḥ tathā manvantarādau ca deyaṃ śrāddhaṃ vijānatā //

Translation

Những thời điểm này—khởi từ các yuga—được ghi nhớ là làm cho bố thí sinh quả akṣaya (bất hoại). Cũng vậy, vào lúc mở đầu một Manvantara, người hiểu biết nên cử hành nghi lễ śrāddha.

Word by Word

• yuga-ādayaḥ: the yugas and other such (sacred periods)

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/declared (in tradition)

• hi: indeed

• etāḥ: these

• dattasyā: of a gift/charity given

• akṣayya-kārikāḥ: causes of imperishable (undiminishing) merit/result

• tathā: likewise

• manvantara-ādau: at the beginning of a Manvantara

• ca: and

• deyam: should be given/offered

• śrāddham: śrāddha (ancestral offering)

• vijānatā: by one who knows/understands (the proper rule).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Manvantara
• Yuga
• Śrāddha

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Akṣaya-puṇya
• Kāla (Sacred Time)
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to cosmic time cycles (yugas and manvantaras) that frame creation and dissolution; the verse uses these transitions as especially potent times for accruing imperishable religious merit.

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

It advises the dharmic person—especially the householder responsible for rites—to give charity and perform śrāddha at auspicious cosmic junctures; a king, as guardian of dharma, is also expected to uphold and model such time-based ritual observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes kāla-niyama (the rule of proper timing): gifts and śrāddha performed at yuga-related sacred periods and at a Manvantara’s beginning are said to yield akṣaya (undiminishing) merit.