Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

प्रावृट्काले स्थिते तोये ह्य् अग्निष्टोमफलं स्मृतम् शरत्काले स्थितं यत्स्यात् तदुक्तफलदायकम् वाजपेयातिरात्राभ्यां हेमन्ते शिशिरे स्थितम् //

Transliteration

prāvṛṭkāle sthite toye hy agniṣṭomaphalaṃ smṛtam śaratkāle sthitaṃ yatsyāt taduktaphaladāyakam vājapeyātirātrābhyāṃ hemante śiśire sthitam //

Translation

বৰ্ষাকাল (প্ৰাবৃট্)ত পানীত থিয় হৈ থাকিলে অগ্নিষ্টোম যজ্ঞৰ ফল লাভ হয় বুলি স্মৃত। শৰৎকালত একে কৰিলে পূৰ্বোক্ত ফল দিয়ে; আৰু হেমন্ত আৰু শিশিৰকালত কৰিলে বাজপেয় আৰু অতিরাত্ৰ যজ্ঞৰ পুণ্য লাভ হয়।

Word by Word

• prāvṛṭ-kāle: in the rainy season

• sthite: when standing/remaining

• toye: in water

• hi: indeed

• agniṣṭoma-phalam: the fruit/merit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice

• smṛtam: is remembered/declared

• śarat-kāle: in the autumn season

• sthitam: when performed/when one remains (thus)

• yat: whatever/that which

• syāt: may be/is

• tad-ukta-phala-dāyakam: bestowing the fruit that was stated (earlier)

• vājapeya-atirātrābhyām: of (the sacrifices) Vājapeya and Atirātra

• hemante: in hemanta (early winter)

• śiśire: in śiśira (late winter)

• sthitam: when performed/when one remains (thus).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Agniṣṭoma
• Vājapeya
• Atirātra
• Prāvṛṭ
• Śarat
• Hemanta
• Śiśira

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual Merit
• Seasonal Dharma
• Yajna-Phala
• Tapas

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches ritual discipline (tapas) whose merit is equated with major Vedic sacrifices depending on the season.

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

It offers a practicable austerity—standing in water seasonally—by which householders (and kings) can gain the merit of costly śrauta yajñas, aligning personal discipline with dharma when full-scale sacrifices are difficult.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: a seasonal water-austerity is presented as a substitute/parallel for Agniṣṭoma, Vājapeya, and Atirātra, emphasizing correct timing (ṛtu) as a key factor in religious efficacy.