Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

बहिः प्रदक्षिणां कुर्यात् पदान्य् अष्टाव् अनुव्रजन् बन्धुवर्गेण सहितः पुत्रभार्यासमन्वितः //

Transliteration

bahiḥ pradakṣiṇāṃ kuryāt padāny aṣṭāv anuvrajan bandhuvargeṇa sahitaḥ putrabhāryāsamanvitaḥ //

Translation

Außerhalb des heiligen Ortes oder der Umfriedung soll er die Pradakṣiṇā vollziehen, also rechtsherum umschreiten, dabei acht Schritte gehend, begleitet von seinem Verwandtenkreis, zusammen mit Sohn und Gattin.

Word by Word

• bahis: outside

• pradakṣiṇām: rightward circumambulation (clockwise)

• kuryāt: should do/perform

• padāni: steps/footsteps

• aṣṭau: eight

• anuvrajan: going along/following in procession

• bandhuvargeṇa: with the group of kinsmen/relatives

• sahitaḥ: accompanied/together with

• putra: son

• bhāryā: wife

• samanvitaḥ: attended by/along with

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu in ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• bandhu-varga (kinsmen)
• putra (son)
• bhāryā (wife)

Tags

• Ritual
• Pradakshina
• Grihastha Dharma
• Vrata
• Procession

FAQs

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

It does not discuss pralaya; it gives a practical ritual injunction—how to perform an outer clockwise circumambulation in a prescribed manner.

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

It reflects gṛhastha-oriented dharma: rites are performed with one’s immediate family (wife and son) and supported by kin, emphasizing social continuity and auspicious participation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual detail is the key: an outer pradakṣiṇā (clockwise circumambulation) measured as eight steps, indicating a standardized, count-based movement around a sacred locus or enclosure.