Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच यस्य राशिं समासाद्य भवेद्ग्रहणसम्प्लवः तस्य स्नानं प्रवक्ष्यामि मन्त्रौषधविधानतः //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca yasya rāśiṃ samāsādya bhavedgrahaṇasamplavaḥ tasya snānaṃ pravakṣyāmi mantrauṣadhavidhānataḥ //

Translation

Lord Matsya said: “When, upon reaching a person’s rāśi (zodiacal sign), an eclipse-like calamity—namely a planetary affliction—arises, I shall prescribe for him the proper bathing rite, according to the ordained method of mantras and medicinal herbs.”

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच: Matsya said

• यस्य: whose/of whom

• राशिं: zodiacal sign (rāśi)

• समासाद्य: having reached/attained

• भवेत्: would occur/arise

• ग्रहण-सम्प्लवः: eclipse-like overwhelming affliction/calamity (grahaṇa + samplava)

• तस्य: for him/of that person

• स्नानम्: bathing rite/purificatory bath

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain/teach

• मन्त्र-औषध-विधानतः: in accordance with the prescribed procedure using mantras and medicinal herbs.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Matsya Avatara of Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Rāśi (zodiac sign)
• Grahaṇa (eclipse/planetary seizure)

Tags

• Grahaṇa
• Snāna
• Ritual
• Śānti
• Mantra
• Auṣadha

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic Pralaya; it uses “samplava” in the sense of an overwhelming calamity connected to grahaṇa (eclipse/affliction) and introduces a practical rite of purification.

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

It frames a householder-facing dharmic response to inauspicious celestial events: when afflicted, one should follow prescribed śānti practices—here, a purificatory bath supported by mantra and herbal means—rather than falling into fear or neglecting ritual discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it announces a specific snāna-vidhi (bathing procedure) to be performed during grahaṇa-related distress, explicitly integrating mantra-recitation with auṣadha (herbal/medicinal) ritual protocol.