Shloka 14

Pātra-Nirṇaya and Ritual Procedure: Who to Feed, Who to Avoid, and Step-by-Step Śrāddha Performance

Devanagari script

पवित्रपाणिर् आचान्तान् आसनेषूपवेशयेत् पितॄणाम् अयुजो युग्मान् देवानाम् इच्छया द्विजान्

Transliteration

pavitrapāṇir ācāntān āsaneṣūpaveśayet pitṝṇām ayujo yugmān devānām icchayā dvijān

Translation

以库沙草制成的净戒使双手清净，先行阿遮摩那（净口礼），然后将受邀的二次生者安置于各自规定的座位；为祖灵（Pitṛ）设奇数，为诸天（Deva）随意设偶数。

Word by Word

• पवित्रपाणिः: one with purified hands
• पवित्रपाणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पवित्रस्य पाणिः)

• आचान्तान्: those who have sipped (ācamana-done)
• आचान्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु) → आचान्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (having sipped/washed, i.e., having performed ācamana)

• आसनेषु: on the seats
• आसनेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• उपवेशयेत्: should seat (make sit)
• उपवेशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: make sit)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अयुजः: odd (in number)
• अयुजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + युज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (युग्मान् इति)

• युग्मान्: pairs/groups (as sets)
• युग्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• इच्छया: by (their) wish / as desired
• इच्छया: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity and correct arrangement in śrāddha uphold ṛta/dharma by properly honoring Devas and Pitṛs through qualified representatives.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Perform ancestral and devotional duties with cleanliness, attentiveness, and respect for prescribed order rather than treating them as mere formality.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is service to the Lord’s cosmic order, where Devas and Pitṛs function as dependent recipients within His governance.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Devas
• Dvijas (twice-born Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the significance of seating an odd number for the Pitṛs in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse prescribes an odd count for the Pitṛ-offering, marking a distinct ritual protocol for ancestors and ensuring the śrāddha is performed in the traditionally sanctioned manner.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the preparatory acts before seating participants?

He places ritual purity first: the performer should have sanctified hands (pavitra/kuśa-ring) and the invitees should be purified by ācamana, then they are seated correctly for the rite.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in the verse, śrāddha is framed within Vishnu Purana’s dharma-vision where correct rites uphold ṛta (cosmic order), ultimately harmonizing human duty with the Supreme reality that sustains devas and ancestors alike.