Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

राजसूये सुरगणा ब्रह्माद्याः सन्तु मे द्विजाः रक्षःपालः शिवो ऽस्माकम् आस्तां शूलधरो हरः //

Transliteration

rājasūye suragaṇā brahmādyāḥ santu me dvijāḥ rakṣaḥpālaḥ śivo 'smākam āstāṃ śūladharo haraḥ //

Translation

In the Rājasūya rite, let the hosts of gods—beginning with Brahmā—be my sanctifying witnesses, O twice-born ones. And for our protection, let Śiva—Hara, the wielder of the trident—stand as the guardian against destructive forces.

Word by Word

• rājasūye: in the Rājasūya (royal consecration sacrifice)

• sura-gaṇāḥ: hosts of gods

• brahma-ādyāḥ: beginning with Brahmā

• santu: let them be

• me: for me / mine

• dvijāḥ: O twice-born (Brāhmaṇas)

• rakṣaḥ-pālaḥ: protector against rākṣasas / guardian against hostile beings

• śivaḥ: Śiva

• asmākam: of us / for us

• āstām: let him stand / let him remain (as appointed)

• śūla-dharaḥ: trident-bearer

• haraḥ: Hara (a name of Śiva)

Speaker

• Ritual voice / royal officiant addressing the dvijas (priests) during the Rājasūya context (as presented in the Matsya Purana narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Rājasūya
• Suragaṇa (Devas)
• Brahmā
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇas)
• Śiva
• Hara
• Śūladhara (Trident-bearer)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Rājasūya
• Ritual
• Protective Deities
• Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava Harmony

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on royal ritual (Rājasūya) and invoking divine protection, indicating the Purāṇic emphasis on cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) being upheld through yajña rather than describing dissolution.

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

It reflects the king’s duty to perform public, dharma-sustaining rites with qualified priests (dvijas), and to establish protection for the realm—symbolically by invoking deities like Brahmā and Śiva during state rituals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes a protective invocation within the Rājasūya setting: gods are called as witnesses and Śiva (as trident-bearing guardian) is installed in a protective role—useful for understanding Matsya Purana yajña-protocol and apotropaic (warding) elements.