Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच पादपानां विधिं वक्ष्ये तथैवोद्यानभूमिषु तडागविधिवत्सर्वम् आसाद्य जगदीश्वर //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca pādapānāṃ vidhiṃ vakṣye tathaivodyānabhūmiṣu taḍāgavidhivatsarvam āsādya jagadīśvara //

Translation

Sūta said: “I shall describe the proper procedure regarding trees, and likewise regarding garden-lands. Having approached the Lord of the world, I shall relate everything in accordance with the rules prescribed for ponds.”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ uvāca: Sūta said

• pādapānām: of trees

• vidhim: the rule/procedure

• vakṣye: I will explain

• tathā eva: likewise/also

• udyāna-bhūmiṣu: in garden-grounds/park lands

• taḍāga-vidhi-vat: in the manner of the pond-regulations

• sarvam: everything

• āsādya: having approached/after approaching

• jagad-īśvara: the Lord of the world

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Jagadīśvara (Lord of the world)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Vriksha-vidhi
• Udyana
• Tadaga
• Puranic guidelines

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces a practical, dharmic topic—rules for trees, gardens, and ponds—presented as authoritative instruction connected to the “Lord of the world.”

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

By framing tree-planting and garden-land management alongside pond-regulations, it points to dharmic public welfare: kings and householders gain merit and social benefit through maintaining water resources and green spaces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It signals a Vāstu-oriented linkage: garden planning (udyāna-bhūmi) and tree procedures are to be understood “like pond-rules” (taḍāga-vidhi-vat), implying standardized design principles for landscape and waterworks within Puranic Vastuvidyā.