Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

चमसाध्वर्यवस्तत्र विश्वे देवा दशैव तु त्रैलोक्यं दक्षिणा तेन ऋत्विग्भ्यः प्रतिपादितम् //

Transliteration

camasādhvaryavastatra viśve devā daśaiva tu trailokyaṃ dakṣiṇā tena ṛtvigbhyaḥ pratipāditam //

Translation

There, the Camasa and Adhvaryu priests were duly honoured, and the Viśvedevas—ten in number—were invoked; and by that rite the dakṣiṇā, symbolically equated with the three worlds, was properly presented to the officiating ṛtvij priests.

Word by Word

• camasa: the Camasa priest / the cup-bearer in Soma rites

• adhvaryavaḥ: the Adhvaryu priests (Yajurvedic officiants)

• tatra: there, in that rite/occasion

• viśve devāḥ: the Viśvedevas (a collective class of deities)

• daśa eva tu: indeed ten (in number)

• trailokyam: the three worlds (earth, atmosphere, heaven) / all the three realms

• dakṣiṇā: sacrificial fee, honorarium given to priests

• tena: by that (rite/arrangement)

• ṛtvigbhyaḥ: to the ṛtviks (officiating priests)

• pratipāditam: was bestowed, was duly presented.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s ritual account, within the Manu–Matsya teaching context)

Entities Mentioned

• Viśvedevas
• Adhvaryu
• Ṛtvij
• Dakṣiṇā
• Trailokya

Tags

• Yajña
• Dakṣiṇā
• Vedic ritual
• Priestly duties
• Deities

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on yajña procedure—especially the proper honoring of priests and deities through dakṣiṇā, described with cosmic symbolism (trailokya).

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

It highlights the dharmic duty of a yajamāna (often a king or householder) to remunerate ṛtviks correctly; giving dakṣiṇā is treated as an essential completion of sacrifice, not an optional charity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies priestly roles (Camasa, Adhvaryu, ṛtvij) and the invocation/recognition of the Viśvedevas (ten), emphasizing that dakṣiṇā—likened to the ‘three worlds’—must be formally presented to the officiants.