Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

यजमानः सपत्नीक ऋत्विजः सुसमाहितान् दक्षिणाभिः प्रयत्नेन पूजयेद्गतविस्मयः //

Transliteration

yajamānaḥ sapatnīka ṛtvijaḥ susamāhitān dakṣiṇābhiḥ prayatnena pūjayedgatavismayaḥ //

Translation

Der Yajamāna (Opferherr) soll zusammen mit seiner Gattin die wohlgesammelten ṛtvij (amtierenden Priester) eifrig mit dakṣiṇā (Opfergaben) ehren, mit festem Geist und ohne Zerstreuung.

Word by Word

• yajamānaḥ: the sacrificer/patron of the rite

• sapatnīkaḥ: along with (his) wife

• ṛtvijaḥ: the officiating priests

• su-samāhitān: well-collected in mind, properly attentive/disciplinarian

• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: with dakṣiṇās, honoraria/ritual gifts

• prayatnena: with effort, carefully/earnestly

• pūjayet: should honour, worship, treat with reverence

• gata-vismayaḥ: free from bewilderment/distraction, composed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, as part of dharma/ritual teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Yajamāna
• Patnī (wife of the sacrificer)
• Ṛtvij (Vedic priests)
• Dakṣiṇā

Tags

• Yajna
• Dakshina
• Householder-Dharma
• Ritual-Etiquette
• Priesthood

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual dharma—how a yajamāna should properly honour the officiating priests through dakṣiṇā and disciplined conduct.

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

It frames a core householder (and royal) duty: when sponsoring a yajña, one must include the wife (as co-participant) and honour the ṛtviks with appropriate gifts, showing responsibility, gratitude, and composure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the mandated offering of dakṣiṇā and respectful treatment of ṛtviks; it underscores that correct yajña performance includes proper remuneration and reverent conduct, not merely recitation and oblations.