Shloka 160

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधफलं प्राहुर् लक्षहोमं सुरोत्तमाः द्वादशाहमखस् तद्वन् नवग्रहमखः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

aśvamedhaphalaṃ prāhur lakṣahomaṃ surottamāḥ dvādaśāhamakhas tadvan navagrahamakhaḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

The foremost of the gods declare that a lakh (one hundred thousand) oblations in a homa yields the fruit of an Aśvamedha. Likewise, a twelve-day sacrifice is said to be equivalent; and so too is the Navagraha-sacrifice (Navagraha-makha) regarded.

Word by Word

• aśvamedha-phalam: the fruit/merit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice

• prāhuḥ: they said/declare

• lakṣa-homam: a homa consisting of one lakh oblations

• sura-uttamāḥ: the best among the gods (foremost celestials)

• dvādaśa-aha-makhaḥ: a twelve-day sacrificial session (sattra)

• tadvat: likewise/in the same way

• nava-graha-makhaḥ: the sacrifice/rite directed to the nine grahas (Sun through Ketu)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/considered (in tradition).

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Aśvamedha
• Homa
• Navagraha

Tags

• Dharma
• Yajna
• Homa
• Navagraha
• Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on ritual equivalences—stating that certain homas and sacrifices are remembered as yielding merit comparable to major Vedic rites like the Aśvamedha.

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

It offers a dharmic, accessible pathway: instead of undertaking an immense royal rite like the Aśvamedha, a householder or ruler may perform large-scale homa, a twelve-day sacrifice, or a Navagraha-makha to obtain comparable religious merit (phala) within the Purāṇic framework.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it ranks and equates major offerings—lakṣahoma (100,000 oblations), a dvādaśāha (twelve-day sattra), and the Navagraha sacrifice—highlighting the importance of graha-propitiation and sustained sacrificial observance.