Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Code of Conduct and Vow-Procedure for Courtesans

Devanagari script

भवेत्सर्वौषधीस्नानं सम्यङ्नारी समाचरेत् तदा पञ्चशरस्यापि संनिधातृत्वमेष्यति अर्चयेत्पुण्डरीकाक्षम् अनङ्गस्यानुकीर्तनैः //

Transliteration

bhavetsarvauṣadhīsnānaṃ samyaṅnārī samācaret tadā pañcaśarasyāpi saṃnidhātṛtvameṣyati arcayetpuṇḍarīkākṣam anaṅgasyānukīrtanaiḥ //

Translation

A woman should properly perform the bath with all medicinal herbs; then even Pañcaśara (Kāma, the five-arrowed god of love) will come into near presence. She should worship Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Viṣṇu) with recitations that invoke Ananga (Kāma).

Word by Word

• bhavet: there should be/it becomes

• sarvauṣadhī-snānam: bath using all medicinal herbs

• samyak: properly, correctly

• nārī: woman

• samācaret: should perform/observe

• tadā: then

• pañcaśarasya: of the five-arrowed one (Kāma)

• api: even/also

• saṃnidhātṛtvam: the state of nearness/presence

• eṣyati: will come/attain

• arcayet: should worship

• puṇḍarīkākṣam: Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Viṣṇu, lotus-eyed)

• anaṅgasya: of Ananga (Kāma, ‘bodiless’)

• anukīrtanaiḥ: with repeated recitations/praises/invocations

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely via Sūta’s narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Vishnu)
• Pañcaśara (Kāma)
• Ananga (Kāma)

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual Bath
• Herbal Snāna
• Viṣṇu Worship
• Kāma (Ananga)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches a ritual observance (herbal bath and worship) aimed at auspiciousness and the favorable presence of Kāma, framed under devotion to Viṣṇu (Puṇḍarīkākṣa).

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

It aligns with gṛhastha-dharma by prescribing a sāttvic, Viṣṇu-centered rite for domestic well-being—channeling desire (Kāma) through purification (snāna) and worship (arcana), rather than indulgence without dharmic restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the sarvauṣadhī-snāna (medicinal-herb bath) followed by arcana of Puṇḍarīkākṣa with anukīrtana invoking Ananga—indicating a purification-plus-devotion sequence used for auspicious, love-related outcomes.