Shloka 37

Matsya Purana — Pitṛ Worlds

Devanagari script

मसूरशणनिष्पावराजमाषकुसुम्भिकाः पद्मबिल्वार्कधत्तूरपारिभद्राटरूषकाः //

Transliteration

masūraśaṇaniṣpāvarājamāṣakusumbhikāḥ padmabilvārkadhattūrapāribhadrāṭarūṣakāḥ //

Translation

“(These are to be included:) lentil, flax, niṣpā (a pulse), āvara (a kind of bean), rāja-māṣa (a superior variety of black gram), and safflower; likewise lotus, bilva, arka, dhattūra, pārijāta (pāribhadrā), and aṭarūṣaka.”

Word by Word

• masūra: lentil

• śaṇa: flax/hemp (fibrous plant)

• niṣpā: a pulse/bean (niṣpāva-type legume)

• āvara: a kind of bean/pulse

• rāja-māṣa: “royal” māṣa, a superior black gram variety

• kusumbhikā: safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

• padma: lotus

• bilva: bael tree (Aegle marmelos)

• arka: arka plant / sun-plant (Calotropis procera), also ‘Sun’ by meaning

• dhattūra: thorn-apple (Datura)

• pāribhadrā (pāribhadrāṭa): pārijāta/coral tree (Erythrina / Nyctanthes in later usage)

• aṭarūṣaka: vāsā/adhatoda (Justicia adhatoda), a medicinal shrub

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s discourse; traditionally relaying Matsya’s instruction to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Bilva
• Arka
• Dhattura
• Parijata (Paribhadraka)
• Atarushaka

Tags

• Dana
• Ritual items
• Auspicious plants
• Ayurvedic herbs
• Matsya Purana lists

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it is a catalog of plants, grains, and herbs regarded as ritually relevant or auspicious in the Purana’s prescriptive sections.

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

Such lists typically guide householders and rulers in choosing proper items for worship, charity (dāna), and rite-support—standardizing what is considered pure, auspicious, and acceptable for religious gifting and offerings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, plants like bilva, arka, lotus, and pārijāta are classic offering-materials; medicinal/utility plants (aṭarūṣaka, flax) also appear in Purāṇic prescriptions. The verse functions as an authoritative inventory for puja/dāna materials rather than a direct temple-measurement rule.