Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

दध्योदनं च जीवाय शक्राय च घृतौदनम् शनैश्चराय कृसराम् अजामांसं च राहवे चित्रौदनं च केतुभ्यः सर्वभक्ष्यैरथार्चयेत् //

Transliteration

dadhyodanaṃ ca jīvāya śakrāya ca ghṛtaudanam śanaiścarāya kṛsarām ajāmāṃsaṃ ca rāhave citraudanaṃ ca ketubhyaḥ sarvabhakṣyairathārcayet //

Translation

To Jīva/Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) one should offer dadhyodana—rice cooked with curd; and to Śakra (Indra), ghṛtaudana—rice cooked with ghee. To Śanaiścara (Saturn) one should offer kṛsara, a mixed rice dish. To Rāhu, goat’s meat; and to Ketu, variegated (mixed/colored) rice. Thus should one worship them with all appropriate food-offerings.

Word by Word

• दध्योदनम्: rice cooked/mixed with curd

• च: and

• जीवाय: to Jīva (Jupiter/Bṛhaspati)

• शक्राय: to Śakra (Indra)

• घृतौदनम्: rice cooked with ghee

• शनैश्चराय: to Śanaiścara (Saturn)

• कृसराम् (कृसराम्/कृसरम्): kṛsara, a mixed rice preparation (often rice with pulses/spices)

• अजामांसम्: goat’s meat

• राहवे: to Rāhu

• चित्रौदनम्: variegated/mixed/colored rice

• केतुभ्यः: to Ketu

• सर्वभक्ष्यैः: with all (suitable) foods/edibles

• अथ: thus/then

• अर्चयेत्: one should worship/offer (in ritual).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual dialogue attribution within the Matsya Purana’s didactic frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Jīva (Bṛhaspati/Jupiter)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• Rāhu
• Ketu

Tags

• Graha-Shanti
• Naivedya
• Navagraha
• Ritual Procedure
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual protocol—specific food-offerings (naivedya) used in graha-śānti (planetary pacification) worship.

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

It reflects the householder/kingly duty to maintain order and auspiciousness through prescribed rites—performing regulated offerings to the grahas to mitigate afflictions and support dharma, prosperity, and stability in the realm and household.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it specifies exact naivedya items for particular grahas (Jupiter, Indra, Saturn, Rāhu, Ketu), serving as a procedural rule within Matsya Purana-style graha worship and śānti rites.