Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

कुम्भान्सर्वेषु वृक्षेषु स्थापयित्वा नरेश्वर सहिरण्यानशेषांस्तान् कृत्वा बलिनिवेदनम् //

Transliteration

kumbhānsarveṣu vṛkṣeṣu sthāpayitvā nareśvara sahiraṇyānaśeṣāṃstān kṛtvā balinivedanam //

Translation

O König, nachdem man bei allen Bäumen Ritualkrüge (kumbha) aufgestellt und jeden von ihnen mit Gold versehen hat, soll man sodann die vollständige Darbringung des bali (besänftigende Opfergaben) vollziehen.

Word by Word

• कुम्भान् (kumbhān): ritual jars, sacred pots

• सर्वेषु (sarveṣu): on all, in all

• वृक्षेषु (vṛkṣeṣu): trees

• स्थापयित्वा (sthāpayitvā): having installed/placed

• नरेश्वर (nareśvara): O lord of men, O king

• सहिरण्यान् (sahiraṇyān): together with gold, accompanied by gold

• अशेषान् (aśeṣān): without remainder, all of them

• तान् (tān): those (jars/arrangements)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done, having prepared

• बलिनिवेदनम् (balinivedanam): the offering/presentation of bali (propitiatory oblations).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu / a kingly addressee

Entities Mentioned

• King (Nareśvara)
• Kumbha (ritual jar)
• Trees (Vṛkṣa)
• Bali (offering)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Rituals
• Bali
• Kumbha
• Auspicious rites

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual procedure—installing kumbhas and performing bali offerings for auspiciousness and propitiation.

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

It frames ritual responsibility as part of rājadharma/gṛhya duty: a ruler (or patron) is to sponsor complete rites—installing sacred jars and providing dakṣiṇā-like valuables (gold) before making bali offerings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes kumbha-sthāpana (placing consecrated jars) at trees and performing bali-nivedana—an act of sanctifying space and appeasing local/guardian forces as part of a larger ceremonial observance.