Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

अथर्वणश्चोत्तरतः शान्तिकं पौष्टिकं तथा जपेयुर्मनसा देवम् आश्रित्य वरुणं प्रभुम् //

Transliteration

atharvaṇaścottarataḥ śāntikaṃ pauṣṭikaṃ tathā japeyurmanasā devam āśritya varuṇaṃ prabhum //

Translation

Und nördlich vom Atharva‑Teil soll man im Geist Japa der besänftigenden (śāntika) und wohlstandsverleihenden (pauṣṭika) Formeln vollziehen, indem man beim Herrn Varuṇa, der souveränen Gottheit, Zuflucht nimmt.

Word by Word

• atharvaṇaḥ: of/connected with the Atharva (Atharvaveda or Atharva priest)

• ca: and

• uttarataḥ: on the northern side/to the north

• śāntikam: pacificatory (appeasing, averting harm)

• pauṣṭikam: nourishing, prosperity-giving

• tathā: likewise/also

• japeyuḥ: they should recite (as japa)

• manasā: mentally/inwardly

• devam: the deity

• āśritya: having taken refuge in/depending upon

• varuṇam: Varuṇa

• prabhum: the lord, sovereign

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a ritual-procedure context)

Entities Mentioned

• Varuṇa
• Atharva (Atharvaveda/Atharvan priest)

Tags

• Shanti
• Paushtika
• Japa
• Varuna
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on shānti (harm-averting) and pauṣṭika (prosperity) japa, indicating how order and wellbeing are ritually maintained rather than how dissolution occurs.

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

It supports the dharma of protection and welfare: a householder or ruler is expected to sponsor or perform rites that pacify dangers and promote prosperity, here by inward japa and reliance on Varuṇa as a regulating, sovereign deity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes ritual layout by direction—placing/acting “to the north” relative to the Atharva component—and prescribes mānasa-japa (mental recitation) for śāntika and pauṣṭika results, reflecting precise procedural orientation akin to Vastu-informed ritual arrangement.