Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

आ वो राजेति रुद्रस्य बलिहोमं समाचरेत् आपो हि ष्ठेत्युमायास्तु स्योनेति स्वामिनस्तथा //

Transliteration

ā vo rājeti rudrasya balihomaṃ samācaret āpo hi ṣṭhetyumāyāstu syoneti svāminastathā //

Translation

Man soll ordnungsgemäß das Bali-Opfer und das Homa für Rudra mit der Mantraformel vollziehen, die mit „ā vo rāje…“ beginnt. Für Umā (geschieht es) mit „āpo hi ṣṭhā…“, und ebenso für den Herrn (Svāmin) mit der Mantraformel, die mit „syonā…“ anhebt.

Word by Word

• आ (ā): with the mantra beginning “ā”

• वो (vo): for you (addressed in the mantra)

• राजेति (rājeti): “rājan/king” phrase—i.e., the mantra ‘ā vo rāje…’

• रुद्रस्य (rudrasya): of Rudra (Śiva)

• बलिहोमम् (balihomam): bali-offering and homa (oblatory rite)

• समाचरेत् (samācaret): should perform properly

• आपः (āpaḥ): waters

• हि (hi): indeed

• ष्ठेति (ṣṭheti): ‘ṣṭhā/ṣṭha’ phrase—i.e., the mantra ‘āpo hi ṣṭhā…’

• उमायाः (umāyāḥ): of Umā (Pārvatī)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• स्योनेति (syoneti): the ‘syonā…’ mantra phrase

• स्वामिनः (svāminaḥ): of the Lord/Master (a deity addressed as Svāmin)

• तथा (tathā): likewise/in the same manner

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a ritual-teaching discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra
• Umā
• Svāmin

Tags

• Balihoma
• Mantra-vidhi
• Rudra-upāsanā
• Umā-upāsanā
• Gṛhya-ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is a technical ritual instruction specifying which Vedic mantra-openings should accompany bali and homa for particular deities.

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

It frames dharma as correct performance of prescribed rites: a king or householder should worship deities through bali and homa using the appropriate mantras, emphasizing orthopraxy (right ritual method).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it gives deity-specific mantra cues—‘ā vo rāje…’ for Rudra, ‘āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ for Umā, and ‘syonā…’ for Svāmin—indicating that correct mantra selection is integral to valid homa offerings.