Shloka 101

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

औदुम्बरीं तथार्द्रां च ऋज्वीं कोटरवर्जिताम् बाहुमात्रां स्रुचं कृत्वा ततः स्तम्भद्वयोपरि घृतधारां तया सम्यग् अग्नेरुपरि पातयेत् //

Transliteration

audumbarīṃ tathārdrāṃ ca ṛjvīṃ koṭaravarjitām bāhumātrāṃ srucaṃ kṛtvā tataḥ stambhadvayopari ghṛtadhārāṃ tayā samyag agnerupari pātayet //

Translation

Having fashioned a ladle (sruc) from udumbara wood—moist, straight, and free from hollows—measuring the length of a forearm, one should then, from above the pair of posts, properly pour a continuous stream of ghee (ghṛta) over the fire with it.

Word by Word

• औदुम्बरीम् (audumbarīm): made of udumbara (fig) wood

• तथा (tathā): and

• आर्द्राम (ārdrām): moist/fresh (not dried)

• च (ca): and

• ऋज्वीम् (ṛjvīm): straight

• कोटर-वर्जिताम् (koṭara-varjitām): devoid of hollows/knots/cavities

• बाहु-मात्राम् (bāhu-mātrām): of forearm-length

• स्रुचम् (srucam): ladle for oblations

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having made

• ततः (tataḥ): then

• स्तम्भ-द्वयोपरि (stambha-dvayopari): above/on top of the two posts

• घृत-धाराम् (ghṛta-dhārām): a stream/pour of ghee

• तया (tayā): with that (ladle)

• सम्यक् (samyak): properly, in due manner

• अग्नेः उपरि (agner upari): over the fire

• पातयेत् (pātayet): should cause to fall/pour (offer).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual-vidhi context)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni

Tags

• Yajna
• Homa
• Ghrita
• Ritual Procedure
• Vastuvidya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a technical ritual instruction for a ghee-stream offering (ghṛtadhārā) into Agni using a properly made ladle.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of maintaining Vedic-Puranic rites: correct materials (udumbara wood), correct measurements, and proper procedure are presented as part of disciplined dharma in sacrificial worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies the implement (forearm-length udumbara sruc, straight and hollow-free) and the action (pouring a steady ghee stream from above two posts) indicating a standardized homa setup and offering technique.