Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

रुद्रजापश्चतुर्भिश्च यजुर्वेदपरायणैः वैष्णवानि तु सामानि चतुरः सामवेदिनः अरिष्टवर्गसहितान्य् अभितः परिपाठयेत् //

Transliteration

rudrajāpaścaturbhiśca yajurvedaparāyaṇaiḥ vaiṣṇavāni tu sāmāni caturaḥ sāmavedinaḥ ariṣṭavargasahitāny abhitaḥ paripāṭhayet //

Translation

Let four priests devoted to the Yajurveda perform the Rudra-japa; and let four Sāmaveda chanters recite the Vaiṣṇava Sāman hymns. Together with the protective (ariṣṭa) formulas, these should be chanted all around the site as a complete circumambient recitation.

Word by Word

• रुद्रजापः (rudra-jāpaḥ): repetition/recitation of Rudra-mantras

• चतुर्भिः (caturbhiḥ): by four (priests)

• च (ca): and

• यजुर्वेदपरायणैः (yajurveda-parāyaṇaiḥ): those devoted to/versed in the Yajurveda

• वैष्णवानि (vaiṣṇavāni): relating to Viṣṇu, Vaiṣṇava

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• सामानि (sāmāni): Sāman chants/hymns

• चतुरः (caturaḥ): four

• सामवेदिनः (sāmavedinaḥ): chanters/knowers of the Sāmaveda

• अरिष्टवर्गसहितानि (ariṣṭa-varga-sahitāni): together with the group/collection that wards off misfortune (ariṣṭa)

• अभितः (abhitaḥ): on all sides, around

• परिपाठयेत् (paripāṭhayet): should cause to be recited/should have recited (in circumambulation).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, as a prescriptive ritual guideline)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra
• Vishnu
• Yajurveda
• Samaveda

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual Protection
• Mantra Japa
• Temple Consecration
• Ariṣṭa-śānti

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual safeguarding—using Rudra-japa and Vaiṣṇava Sāman recitations to avert misfortune (ariṣṭa) during sacred procedures.

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

It frames a practical duty: ensuring qualified Vedic specialists conduct protective rites correctly. A king or patron/householder commissioning a temple or major rite must arrange proper priests (Yajurvedins and Sāmavedins) and have the mantras recited around the site to remove obstacles.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual instruction is circumambient chanting (abhitaḥ paripāṭha) around the construction/ritual space, combining Rudra-mantra japa and Vaiṣṇava Sāman hymns with an ariṣṭa-protective set—functioning as a Vastu-aligned protective perimeter for consecration.