Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

सर्वे समुद्राः सरितस् तीर्थानि जलदा नदाः आयान्तु यजमानस्य दुरितक्षयकारकाः //

Transliteration

sarve samudrāḥ saritas tīrthāni jaladā nadāḥ āyāntu yajamānasya duritakṣayakārakāḥ //

Translation

May all the oceans, rivers, sacred fords (tīrthas), rain-bearing clouds, and streams come to the sacrificer (yajamāna), bringing about the destruction of his sins.

Word by Word

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• समुद्राः (samudrāḥ): oceans

• सरितस् (saritas): rivers/streams

• तीर्थानि (tīrthāni): sacred bathing places/fords

• जलदाः (jaladāḥ): rain-clouds (lit. ‘water-givers’)

• नदाः (nadāḥ): rivers

• आयान्तु (āyāntu): may they come/approach

• यजमानस्य (yajamānasya): of the yajamāna (sacrificer/ritual patron)

• दुरितक्षयकारकाः (duritakṣayakārakāḥ): causing the destruction of sin/evil, removing demerit

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in the Matsya–Manu dialogue, giving ritual/merit instructions)

Entities Mentioned

• Yajamāna
• Tīrtha
• Samudra
• Sarita/Nadī
• Jalada

Tags

• Ritual
• Tirtha
• Purification
• Dharma
• Expiation

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it reflects a Purāṇic ritual worldview where all waters (oceans, rivers, clouds, tīrthas) are invoked as sacred forces capable of washing away moral impurity (durita).

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

It supports the householder/ritual patron’s duty to perform yajña and purificatory rites correctly, invoking sacred waters for expiation—an ethical-ritual discipline that also underpins royal dharma when kings sponsor public sacrifices and tīrtha-related works.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as an invocation of all tīrthas and waters for durita-kṣaya (sin-removal), aligning with bathing, sprinkling (prokṣaṇa), and consecratory water-rites used in yajñas and later temple/installation ceremonies.