Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

गजाश्वरथ्यावल्मीकसंगमाद्ध्रदगोकुलात् राजद्वारप्रदेशाच्च मृदमानीय चाक्षिपेत् //

Transliteration

gajāśvarathyāvalmīkasaṃgamāddhradagokulāt rājadvārapradeśācca mṛdamānīya cākṣipet //

Translation

One should bring earth from places such as an elephant-stable, a horse-stable, a chariot-road, a meeting-point near an anthill, from a pond and a cattle-settlement, and also from the area near the royal gate; then one should cast or sprinkle that earth as prescribed.

Word by Word

• गज (gaja): elephant

• अश्व (aśva): horse

• रथ्या (rathyā): chariot-road/roadway

• वाल्मीका (vālmīka): anthill/termite mound

• संगमात् (saṃgamāt): from a junction/meeting-point

• ह्रद (hrada): pond/lake

• गोकुलात् (gokulāt): from a cattle-settlement/cow-pen area

• राजद्वार (rājadvāra): royal gate/palace gate

• प्रदेशात् (pradeśāt): from the vicinity/region

• मृदम् (mṛdam): earth/soil/clay

• आनीय (ānīya): having brought

• च (ca): and

• आक्षिपेत् (ākṣipet): should cast/throw/place/sprinkle (ritually deposit).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual Soil
• Construction
• Temple Architecture
• Auspicious Materials

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to Vastuvidya-style practical instruction, focusing on collecting and ritually depositing soil for construction or a prescribed rite.

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

It reflects the duty to follow śāstric procedure in public works and sacred building—especially relevant to kings overseeing city gates and infrastructure, and householders performing proper preparatory rites before building or consecration.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies recognized sources of earth (mṛd) to be brought and then ritually placed/sprinkled, indicating a formal site-preparation step in Vastu/temple-building practice where materials are gathered from symbolically potent locations.