Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

यजमानः सपत्नीकः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः पश्चिमं द्वारमासाद्य प्रविशेद्यागमण्डपम् //

Transliteration

yajamānaḥ sapatnīkaḥ putrapautrasamanvitaḥ paścimaṃ dvāramāsādya praviśedyāgamaṇḍapam //

Translation

Der Yajamāna, der Opferherr, soll zusammen mit seiner Gattin und begleitet von Söhnen und Enkeln zum westlichen Eingang schreiten und dann den Opferpavillon (yāga-maṇḍapa) betreten.

Word by Word

• yajamānaḥ: the sacrificer/patron of the rite

• sa-patnīkaḥ: together with (his) wife

• putra: sons

• pautra: grandsons

• samanvitaḥ: accompanied/attended by

• paścimam: western

• dvāram: doorway/gate

• āsādya: having approached/reached

• praviśet: should enter

• yāga: sacrifice/ritual offering

• maṇḍapam: pavilion/ritual hall

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Matsya Purāṇa’s ritual instructions; ultimately deriving from the Matsya–Manu dialogue tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Yajamāna
• Patnī (wife)
• Putra (sons)
• Pautra (grandsons)
• Yāga-maṇḍapa

Tags

• Yajna
• Grihastha Dharma
• Ritual Procedure
• Mandapa
• Directional Rules

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on ritual protocol—how the yajamāna is to enter the yāga-maṇḍapa in an orderly, rule-based manner.

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

It reflects gṛhastha-dharma: the sacrificer performs the rite with his wife (patnī is ritually integral) and with family continuity signified by sons and grandsons, emphasizing household responsibility, lineage, and sanctioned ritual conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It prescribes a directional entry—through the western door—indicating that mandapa design and ritual movement follow fixed orientation rules, aligning space (maṇḍapa) with prescribed ceremonial procedure.