Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds

Devanagari script

सौवर्णकूर्ममकरौ राजतौ मत्स्यदुन्दुभौ ताम्रौ कुलीरमण्डूकाव् आयसः शिशुमारकः एवमासाद्य तत्सर्वम् आदावेव विशां पते //

Transliteration

sauvarṇakūrmamakarau rājatau matsyadundubhau tāmrau kulīramaṇḍūkāv āyasaḥ śiśumārakaḥ evamāsādya tatsarvam ādāveva viśāṃ pate //

Translation

O lord of the people, having first procured all these materials, one should make: the tortoise (kūrma) and the makara in gold; the fish and the drum (dundubhi) in silver; the crab and the frog in copper; and the śiśumāra, an aquatic creature of crocodile-like form, in iron.

Word by Word

• सौवर्ण (sauvarṇa): made of gold

• कूर्म (kūrma): tortoise

• मकर (makara): makara (mythic aquatic creature, often crocodile-like)

• राजत (rājata): made of silver

• मत्स्य (matsya): fish

• दुन्दुभ (dundubha/dundubhi): drum, kettle-drum

• ताम्र (tāmra): made of copper

• कुलीर (kulīra): crab

• मण्डूक (maṇḍūka): frog

• आयस (āyasa): made of iron/metal (here iron)

• शिशुमारक (śiśumāraka): śiśumāra, aquatic creature/dolphin-crocodile type

• एवम् (evam): thus

• आसाद्य (āsādya): having obtained/procured

• तत् सर्वम् (tat sarvam): all that

• आदौ एव (ādāu eva): at the very beginning/first

• विशां पते (viśāṃ pate): O lord of the subjects/people (address to the king/Manu).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu/royal patron)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Kūrma
• Makara
• Matsya
• Dundubhi
• Kulīra
• Maṇḍūka
• Śiśumāra

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Pratima-Lakshana
• Iconography
• Ritual Materials
• Metals

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a technical iconography/materials instruction, prescribing which metals are appropriate for specific sacred forms.

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

Addressed as “viśāṃ pate,” it frames icon-making as a royal/householder duty of patronage: first procure the required materials properly, then commission images according to scriptural standards.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a Pratima-nirmāṇa rule: specific symbolic forms are to be fashioned in specific metals (gold, silver, copper, iron), implying standardized temple/ritual craftsmanship and correct material selection before construction begins.