Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees

Devanagari script

होमश्च सर्षपैः कार्यो यवैः कृष्णतिलैस्तथा पलाशसमिधः शस्ताश् चतुर्थे ऽह्नि तथोत्सवः दक्षिणा च पुनस्तद्वद् देया तत्रापि शक्तितः //

Transliteration

homaśca sarṣapaiḥ kāryo yavaiḥ kṛṣṇatilaistathā palāśasamidhaḥ śastāś caturthe 'hni tathotsavaḥ dakṣiṇā ca punastadvad deyā tatrāpi śaktitaḥ //

Translation

A fire-offering (homa) should be performed with mustard seeds, with barley, and likewise with black sesame; and sticks of palāśa wood are praised as the proper fuel. On the fourth day there should also be a festival observance (utsava); and again, in the same manner, a priestly fee (dakṣiṇā) should be given there too, according to one’s capacity.

Word by Word

• होमः (homaḥ): fire-offering

• च (ca): and

• सर्षपैः (sarṣapaiḥ): with mustard seeds

• कार्यः (kāryaḥ): should be performed

• यवैः (yavaiḥ): with barley

• कृष्णतिलैः (kṛṣṇatilaiḥ): with black sesame seeds

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• पलाश-समिधः (palāśa-samidhaḥ): palāśa fuel-sticks (Butea monosperma)

• शस्ताः (śastāḥ): praised/recommended

• चतुर्थे (caturthe): on the fourth

• अह्नि (ahni): day

• तथा (tathā): then/also

• उत्सवः (utsavaḥ): festival/celebratory observance

• दक्षिणा (dakṣiṇā): honorarium/fee to officiants

• च (ca): and

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• तद्वत् (tadvat): in the same way

• देया (deyā): should be given

• तत्रापि (tatrāpi): there also

• शक्तितः (śaktitaḥ): according to ability/capacity

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as instructor) to Vaivasvata Manu (ritual guidance context)

Entities Mentioned

• Palāśa (Butea monosperma)
• Homa
• Dakṣiṇā

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Homa
• Ritual procedure
• Dakshina

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharmic ritual procedure—materials for homa, the fourth-day utsava, and giving dakṣiṇā.

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

It frames proper religious observance as a duty: perform homa with prescribed substances and remunerate priests with dakṣiṇā, calibrated to one’s means—an ethical guideline for householders and rulers alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies homa-dravyas (mustard, barley, black sesame) and recommends palāśa samidh, plus a fourth-day celebratory rite and obligatory dakṣiṇā—key procedural points for Matsya Purana-style anushthāna.