Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Mandāra-Saptamī Vrata

Devanagari script

भोजयेच्छक्तितः कृत्वा मन्दारकुसुमाष्टकम् सौवर्णं पुरुषं तद्वत् पद्महस्तं सुशोभनम् //

Transliteration

bhojayecchaktitaḥ kṛtvā mandārakusumāṣṭakam sauvarṇaṃ puruṣaṃ tadvat padmahastaṃ suśobhanam //

Translation

Having prepared, according to one’s capacity, an octad of mandāra blossoms, one should feed the recipients. Likewise, one should fashion a beautiful golden male figure, splendid, holding a lotus in the hand.

Word by Word

• भोजयेत् (bhojayet): should feed/offer a meal

• शक्तितः (śaktitaḥ): according to ability/means

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having made/prepared

• मन्दारकुसुमाष्टकम् (mandāra-kusuma-aṣṭakam): a set of eight mandāra flowers

• सौवर्णम् (sauvarṇam): golden, made of gold

• पुरुषम् (puruṣam): a male figure/person (icon)

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise/in the same manner

• पद्महस्तम् (padma-hastam): lotus-in-hand, having a lotus in the hand

• सुशोभनम् (su-śobhanam): very beautiful/splendid.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the Matsya Purana’s didactic dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Mandāra (divine coral tree/flower)
• Padma (lotus)
• Puruṣa (iconic male figure)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual Offering
• Dana
• Puja Vidhi

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual merit through offerings—preparing mandāra flowers, feeding recipients, and making a golden icon with a lotus attribute.

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

It frames dharmic practice as proportional to one’s means (śaktitaḥ): a householder or ruler should sponsor feeding (bhojana) and auspicious donations (like a suvarṇa-pratimā), aligning wealth with ritual responsibility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies materials and iconographic features used in worship: an eightfold mandāra-flower offering and a golden male figure depicted as padmahasta (lotus-in-hand), an auspicious attribute in Puranic image-making.