Shloka 45

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

नमो ऽस्तु सर्पेभ्य इति सर्पाणां मन्त्र उच्यते एष ब्रह्मा य ऋत्विग्भ्य इति ब्रह्मण्युदाहृतः //

Transliteration

namo 'stu sarpebhya iti sarpāṇāṃ mantra ucyate eṣa brahmā ya ṛtvigbhya iti brahmaṇyudāhṛtaḥ //

Translation

“Namo’stu sarpebhyaḥ—homage be to the serpents”: this is declared to be the mantra for serpents. And “Eṣa brahmā ya ṛtvigbhyaḥ—this is Brahmā; (homage) to the ṛtvij priests”: this is taught as the mantra pertaining to Brahmins (Brahmin priests).

Word by Word

• namo 'stu: may there be homage / salutations

• sarpebhyaḥ: to the serpents

• iti: thus

• sarpāṇām: of/for serpents

• mantraḥ: a sacred formula, mantra

• ucyate: is said/declared

• eṣaḥ: this

• brahmā: Brahmā / the sacred power (brahman) personified

• yaḥ: who/which (introducing the formula)

• ṛtvigbhyaḥ: to the ṛtvij-s (sacrificial priests)

• iti: thus

• brahmaṇi/brahmaṇyaḥ: pertaining to Brahmins / to brahmanic sacred order

• udāhṛtaḥ: is stated, is taught

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on ritual mantras)

Entities Mentioned

• Serpents (Nāgas/Sarpas)
• Brahmā
• Ṛtvij (Vedic priests)
• Brahmins (Brahmaṇya)

Tags

• Mantra
• Ritual
• Vedic Priests
• Nāga
• Brahminical Tradition

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it preserves practical liturgical usage—specific mantras for honoring serpents and for invoking reverence toward Vedic priests/Brahminical sanctity.

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

It supports dharmic conduct: a householder (and by extension a king) should maintain ritual propriety—offering respectful invocations to potentially dangerous beings (serpents) and upholding the authority of ṛtvij priests who sustain sacrificial rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it records two concise mantra-formulas—one for nāga/serpent appeasement and another affirming brahmaṇya (the sacred Brahmin-priestly order) through salutation to the ṛtvij-s.