Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī Vrata: Monthly Śiva-Names

Devanagari script

गोमूत्रघृतगोक्षीरतिलान् यवकुशोदकम् गोशृङ्गोदशिरीषार्कबिल्वपत्त्रदधीनि च पञ्चगव्यं च संप्राश्य शंकरं पूजयेन्निशि //

Transliteration

gomūtraghṛtagokṣīratilān yavakuśodakam gośṛṅgodaśirīṣārkabilvapattradadhīni ca pañcagavyaṃ ca saṃprāśya śaṃkaraṃ pūjayenniśi //

Translation

Having taken as purificatory substances cow’s urine, ghee, cow’s milk, sesame, barley, and kuśa-water—together with the rite-used cow-horn, odana (cooked offering), śirīṣa, arka, bilva leaves, and curd—and having partaken of pañcagavya, one should worship Śaṅkara at night.

Word by Word

• गोमूत्र (gomūtra): cow’s urine

• घृत (ghṛta): ghee/clarified butter

• गोक्षीर (gokṣīra): cow’s milk

• तिलान् (tilān): sesame seeds

• यव (yava): barley

• कुशोदकम् (kuśa-udakam): water sanctified with kuśa grass

• गोशृङ्ग (gośṛṅga): cow-horn (ritual implement/auspicious item)

• ओदन (odana): cooked rice/boiled offering

• शिरीष (śirīṣa): śirīṣa tree (Albizia lebbeck) / its ritual use

• अर्क (arka): arka plant (Calotropis) used in rites

• बिल्वपत्त्र (bilva-pattra): bilva leaves (Aegle marmelos) dear to Śiva

• दधीनि (dadhīni): curds/yogurt

• पञ्चगव्यम् (pañcagavyam): the five cow-products used for purification

• संप्राश्य (saṃprāśya): having eaten/partaken/ingested

• शंकरम् (śaṅkaram): Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• निशि (niśi): at night.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Pañcagavya
• Bilva

Tags

• Śiva-pūjā
• Pañcagavya
• Ritual purity
• Vrata
• Upacāra

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual purification and the prescribed materials for night-worship of Śaṅkara.

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

It presents a householder-style discipline: maintaining ritual purity (through pañcagavya and sanctified items) and performing regulated worship, implying dharmic self-governance and auspicious observance applicable to rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it lists standard Śaiva upacāras and purificants—especially pañcagavya and bilva leaves—used to prepare the worshipper and offerings for night-time Śiva-pūjā.