Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

जातीफलैः पूगफलैः कट्फलैलावलीफलैः मन्दारैः कोविदारैश्च किंशुकैः कुसुमांशुकैः //

Transliteration

jātīphalaiḥ pūgaphalaiḥ kaṭphalailāvalīphalaiḥ mandāraiḥ kovidāraiśca kiṃśukaiḥ kusumāṃśukaiḥ //

Translation

Mit Früchten von jātīphala (Muskat), pūga (Arekanuss), kaṭphala und elāvalī (Kardamom); und mit Mandāra-Blüten, Kovidāra-Blüten, Kiṃśuka-Blüten sowie zarten „Blumengewändern“ (Blütenblatt-Opfern) soll (der Ort/das Ritual) geschmückt und ehrfürchtig bereitet werden.

Word by Word

• जातिफलैः (jātī-phalaiḥ): with nutmeg fruits

• पूगफलैः (pūga-phalaiḥ): with areca-nuts (betel nuts)

• कट्फल (kaṭphala): kaṭphala fruit (aromatic berry, commonly identified with myrica-type)

• इलावलीफलैः (ilāvalī-phalaiḥ): with cardamom fruits/seeds

• मन्दारैः (mandāraiḥ): with mandāra flowers (coral-tree/heavenly mandāra)

• कोविदारैः (kovidāraiḥ): with kovidāra blossoms (Bauhinia)

• किंशुकैः (kiṃśukaiḥ): with kiṃśuka flowers (palāśa)

• कुसुमांशुकैः (kusumāṃśukaiḥ): with flower-cloths/flower-garlands (petal-like decorative offerings)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative transmission of Matsya Purana’s ritual/vaastu instructions; originally framed as Matsya’s teaching to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Mandāra
• Kovidāra
• Kiṃśuka (Palāśa)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Ritual
• Offerings
• Sacred Garden
• Upachara

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious materials for adorning and honoring a sacred space, reflecting the Purana’s concern with maintaining cosmic order (ṛta) through correct ritual and purity.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of sustaining dharma through proper worship and public religious upkeep—providing fragrant fruits, flowers, and decor for shrines and ceremonies as part of ethical and meritorious conduct (puṇya-kriyā).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes specific aromatic fruits and auspicious blossoms used for upacāra (honorific offerings) and decorative furnishing—practical guidance aligned with Vastu-oriented temple maintenance and sacred garden/ornamentation norms.