Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

स्नातः शुक्लाम्बरस्तद्वद् यजमानो ऽभिपूजयेत् गोभिर् विभवतः सर्वान् ऋत्विजस्तान्समाहितः //

Transliteration

snātaḥ śuklāmbarastadvad yajamāno 'bhipūjayet gobhir vibhavataḥ sarvān ṛtvijastānsamāhitaḥ //

Translation

Nachdem er gebadet hat und weiße Gewänder trägt, soll der Yajamāna (Opferherr) sie ebenso in ehrfürchtiger Verehrung ehren; und nach seinen Mitteln soll er, gefasst und aufmerksam, alle amtierenden Priester (ṛtvij) respektvoll mit Gaben von Kühen belohnen.

Word by Word

• स्नातः: having bathed

• शुक्ल-अम्बरः: clad in white garments

• तद्वद्: in the same manner/likewise

• यजमानः: the sacrificer, patron of the rite

• अभिपूजयेत्: should honor, should worship respectfully

• गोभिः: with cows (as gifts)

• विभवतः: according to one’s resources/means

• सर्वान्: all

• ऋत्विजः: officiating priests

• तान्: those (priests)

• समाहितः: collected in mind, composed, attentive

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya instructing Vaivasvata Manu (didactic narration on ritual conduct)

Entities Mentioned

• Yajamāna
• Ṛtvij

Tags

• Ritual
• Dāna
• Priest-honor
• Yajña
• Householder-dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on sacrificial etiquette—purity (bathing, white clothing) and proper honoring of priests with appropriate gifts.

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

It presents a core duty of the yajamāna (often a householder or ruler): maintain ritual purity and support the ṛtvij priests with dakṣiṇā—here, cows—given proportionate to one’s wealth, and offered with mental composure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: the verse prescribes conduct for the sacrificer—post-bath purity, white attire, reverent honoring, and gifting cows as dakṣiṇā to the officiants.