Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds

Devanagari script

उदङ्मुखो दक्षिणतो यजमान उपाविशेत् यजध्वमिति तान्ब्रूयाद् धौत्रिकान्पुनरेव तु //

Transliteration

udaṅmukho dakṣiṇato yajamāna upāviśet yajadhvamiti tānbrūyād dhautrikānpunareva tu //

Translation

Facing north, the sacrificer (yajamāna) should sit down on the southern side; and he should again address the officiating priests, saying, “Perform the sacrifice.”

Word by Word

• udaṅmukhaḥ: facing north

• dakṣiṇataḥ: on the southern side

• yajamānaḥ: the sacrificer/patron of the rite

• upāviśet: should sit down

• yajadhvam: perform the sacrifice (imperative, plural)

• iti: thus

• tān: to them

• brūyāt: he should say

• dhautrikān: the (so-called) dhautrika officiants/priests (a class of ritual assistants)

• punaḥ eva: again

• tu: and/indeed

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating ritual injunctions of the Matsya Purana tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Yajamāna
• Dhautrika priests

Tags

• Yajna
• Ritual procedure
• Seating directions
• Priests
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on practical yajña protocol—where the yajamāna sits and how he formally prompts the priests to proceed.

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

It reflects the yajamāna’s duty (whether king or householder) to uphold dharma through correctly conducted sacrifice—observing prescribed orientation, seating, and formally commissioning the officiants.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies directional orientation (north-facing) and placement (southern side), showing how space and direction are integral to yajña performance—key for setting up the ritual ground and priestly positions.