Verse 3.202 [Vessels to be used at Śrāddhas]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

राजतैर्भाजनैरेषामथो वा रजतान्वितैः ।
वार्यपि श्रद्धया दत्तमक्षयायौपकल्पते ॥ २०२ ॥

rājatairbhājanaireṣāmatho vā rajatānvitaiḥ |
vāryapi śraddhayā dattamakṣayāyaupakalpate || 202 ||

Even water offered to these with faith, in vessels, either made of silver or connected with silver, is conducive to imperishability.—(202)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Vessels made of silver’—those built entirely of silver. In the absence of these ‘those, connected with silver’—i.e., vessels of wood, or of copper, or of gold, should have one part touched with silver. The vessels referred to here are those in which large quantities of butter, honey and vegetables and other things are kept for being offered; and in connection with these, it is enjoined that they should be of silver. As for the actual offering of the ball and other things, this has to be done with the hands; the libations of water—such as those poured over the balls, etc.—these also should be offered, with the hands; in view of the clear injunction that these offerings should be made ‘with hand, the thread passing over the right shoulder.’ The daily libations of water also are to be offered with the hands—the thread passing over the left or the right shoulder.

“But all this has been laid down in connection with śrāddhas, and, as such, cannot be connected with another act.”

Even such subsidiary details are admissible in an act as are not mentioned in the same context with itself.

“But such details are already mentioned in connection with the act itself.”

That may be so; and in that case, the present right may be only a reiteration of the same.

‘Even water’—the term ‘even’ indicates high praise; the sense being that—‘to say nothing of the offering of richly cooked food, even water alone, if offered in a silver-vessel, becomes, by reason of its connection with silver, ‘conducive to imperishability’—i.e., it becomes the source of ever-lasting satisfaction (to the Pitṛs).

‘With faith;’—being already enjoined in connection with all givings, its mention here is purely reiterative.—(202)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 290), which notes that this is meant to apply only to the offering of water;—in Aparārka, (p. 488);—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 675);—in Gadādharapaddhati, (Kāla, p. 549);—and in Smṛtisāroddhāra, (p. 277).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (9.14, 17, 24).—‘He should offer metallic vessels;—specially those of silver;—whatever is offered with a vessel—howsoever small—made of gold or silver or rhinoceros-horn or Udumbara wood,—becomes imperishable.’

Yājñavalkya (1.237).—‘The remnant of the oblations one should carefully offer into vessels, such as may be available; but specially in those of silver.’