Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

चन्द्रादित्योपरागे तु यत्स्नानमभिधीयते तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि द्रव्यमन्त्रविधानवित् //

Transliteration

candrādityoparāge tu yatsnānamabhidhīyate tadahaṃ śrotumicchāmi dravyamantravidhānavit //

Translation

I wish to hear about the bathing rite prescribed at the time of a lunar or solar eclipse—together with its required materials, mantras, and the proper procedure.

Word by Word

• candra: Moon

• āditya: Sun

• uparāge: during an eclipse/obscuration

• tu: indeed/at that time

• yat: which

• snānam: ritual bath

• abhidhīyate: is taught/is prescribed

• tat: that

• aham: I

• śrotum: to hear

• icchāmi: I desire

• dravya: materials/substances

• mantra: sacred formulae

• vidhāna: prescribed method/procedure

• vit: knower/one who knows

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (questioning the sage/narrator in the Matsya Purana dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Chandra (Moon)
• Aditya (Sun)

Tags

• Eclipse
• Snana
• Mantra
• Ritual Procedure
• Purificatory Rites

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces a dharma-ritual topic—purificatory bathing prescribed specifically for lunar and solar eclipses.

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

It frames eclipse-time conduct as a duty of disciplined life: the householder (and by extension the ruler) should learn the correct materials, mantras, and procedure for prescribed purification rites rather than acting casually during sacred times.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it signals an upcoming detailed grahaṇa-snānavidhi—explicitly emphasizing dravya (materials), mantra (recitation), and vidhāna (method), which are core to orthodox ceremonial correctness.