Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Nārāyaṇa as Haṃsa in the Cosmic Ocean: Vedic Yajña-Puruṣa and Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vi...

Devanagari script

पाणिभ्यामथ चाग्नीध्रं सुब्रह्मण्यं च जानुतः ग्रावस्तुतं तु पादाभ्याम् उन्नेतारं च याजुषम् //

Transliteration

pāṇibhyāmatha cāgnīdhraṃ subrahmaṇyaṃ ca jānutaḥ grāvastutaṃ tu pādābhyām unnetāraṃ ca yājuṣam //

Translation

With the hands (one should assign) the Agnīdhra; with the knees, the Subrahmaṇya; with the feet, the Grāvastut; and (also) the Yājuṣa Unnetṛ.

Word by Word

• pāṇibhyām: with (the) hands

• atha: then/next

• ca: and

• agnīdhraṃ: the Agnīdhra priest (who tends/guards the sacred fire and assists the rite)

• subrahmaṇyaṃ: the Subrahmaṇya priest (who recites the Subrahmaṇyā litany/invocation)

• ca: and

• jānutaḥ: from/with the knees

• grāvastutaṃ: the Grāvastut priest (singer of praises connected with the soma-pressing stones)

• tu: indeed/and

• pādābhyām: with the feet

• unnetāraṃ: the Unnetṛ priest (who ‘raises/pours’ and measures the soma/oblations)

• ca: and

• yājuṣam: belonging to the Yajus (Yajurvedic), i.e., the Yājuṣa (Yajurveda-affiliated officiant).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a ritual-teaching context)

Entities Mentioned

• Agnīdhra
• Subrahmaṇya
• Grāvastut
• Unnetṛ
• Yajus (Yajurveda)

Tags

• Yajña
• Vedic ritual
• Ṛtvij roles
• Priest duties
• Yajurveda

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a technical mapping of specific ṛtvij (priestly) functions used in Vedic sacrifice, emphasizing correct ritual order rather than cosmology.

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

It supports the dharmic duty of rulers and householders to sponsor sacrifices correctly by appointing qualified officiants (Agnīdhra, Subrahmaṇya, Grāvastut, Unnetṛ) according to established procedure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies priest-roles linked to soma/fire operations and Yajurvedic performance; such precision is foundational for large rites (and by extension consecrations), where correct officiant assignment is considered essential for efficacy.