Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds

Devanagari script

वामदेव्यं बृहत्साम रौरवं सरथंतरम् गवां व्रतं च काण्वं च रक्षोघ्नं वयसस्तथा गायेयुः सामगा राजन् पश्चिमं द्वारमाश्रिताः //

Transliteration

vāmadevyaṃ bṛhatsāma rauravaṃ sarathaṃtaram gavāṃ vrataṃ ca kāṇvaṃ ca rakṣoghnaṃ vayasastathā gāyeyuḥ sāmagā rājan paścimaṃ dvāramāśritāḥ //

Translation

O King, stationed at the western gate, the Sāma-chanters should sing the Vāmadevya, the Bṛhatsāman, the Raurava, the Sarathantara, the Gavāṃ-vrata, the Kāṇva, the Rakṣoghna, and likewise the Vayasa (Sāmans).

Word by Word

• vāmadevyaṃ: the Vāmadevya Sāman

• bṛhat-sāma: the Bṛhatsāman (great Sāman chant)

• rauravam: the Raurava Sāman

• sarathantaram: the Sarathantara Sāman

• gavām-vratam: the Gavāṃ-vrata Sāman (vow/observance ‘of the cows’ chant)

• kāṇvam: the Kāṇva Sāman (associated with the Kāṇva tradition)

• rakṣoghnaṃ: the Rakṣoghna Sāman (destroyer of demons/evil influences)

• vayasā: the Vayasa Sāman

• tathā: and also/likewise

• gāyeyuḥ: they should sing

• sāmagāḥ: Sāma-singers/chanters

• rājan: O King

• paścimam: western

• dvāram: gate/entrance

• āśritāḥ: having taken position at/posted at.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to King Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Sāmagāḥ (Sāma-veda chanters)
• Vāmadevya Sāman
• Bṛhatsāman
• Raurava Sāman
• Sarathantara Sāman
• Gavāṃ-vrata Sāman
• Kāṇva Sāman
• Rakṣoghna Sāman
• Vayasa Sāman
• Western gate (paścima-dvāra)

Tags

• Matsya Purana
• Vastuvidya
• Temple rituals
• Sama Veda
• Gate rites
• Protective chants

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it prescribes protective and auspicious Sāma-veda chants to be sung at the western gate as part of ritual/architectural procedure.

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

It frames the king’s duty as ensuring correct ritual order and protection of sacred/public spaces: appointing qualified Sāma-chanters at the proper direction (the western gate) and maintaining dharmic rites that avert harm (rakṣoghna).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It links directionality in design (the western gate) with specific Sāman recitations, implying that each gate/quarter has prescribed liturgical sound-rituals for consecration, auspiciousness, and warding off negative forces.