Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

होमं कृत्वा ततः पश्चाद् वर्जयेन्मानवः फलम् अनेन विधिना यस्तु पुमानर्घ्यं निवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

homaṃ kṛtvā tataḥ paścād varjayenmānavaḥ phalam anena vidhinā yastu pumānarghyaṃ nivedayet //

Translation

Having performed the fire-offering (homa), thereafter a man should refrain from seeking the fruit (of the rite). But whoever offers arghya according to this prescribed method—

Word by Word

• होमं (homam): fire-offering, homa

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done, having performed

• ततः (tataḥ): then, thereafter

• पश्चात् (paścāt): afterwards

• वर्जयेत् (varjayet): should avoid, should refrain from

• मानवः (mānavaḥ): a man, a person

• फलम् (phalam): fruit, reward, result

• अनेन (anena): by this, through this

• विधिना (vidhinā): by the rule, according to the procedure

• यः (yaḥ): who

• तु (tu): indeed, however

• पुमान् (pumān): a man

• अर्घ्यम् (arghyam): arghya (ritual offering of water/hospitality)

• निवेदयेत् (nivedayet): should offer, should present.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Manu
• Homa
• Arghya

Tags

• Dharma
• Ritual
• Homa
• Arghya
• Householder

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches ritual discipline—performing homa and offering arghya without attachment to the expected “fruit” of the rite.

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

It frames a core dharmic ethic for householders (and rulers acting as ritual patrons): complete prescribed worship (homa, arghya) while avoiding selfish expectation of reward—an ideal of niṣkāma (non-attached) performance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is procedural: homa is performed first, and arghya is to be offered according to a fixed vidhi; the verse also stresses that rites should be done without craving their results.