Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees

Devanagari script

सर्वौषध्युदकैः सिक्तान् पिष्टातकविभूषितान् वृक्षान्माल्यैरलंकृत्य वासोभिरभिवेष्टयेत् //

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhyudakaiḥ siktān piṣṭātakavibhūṣitān vṛkṣānmālyairalaṃkṛtya vāsobhirabhiveṣṭayet //

Translation

He should sprinkle the trees with water infused with all healing herbs; adorn them with piṣṭātaka (a decorative paste), decorate them with garlands, and then wrap them with cloth.

Word by Word

• sarva-auṣadhi-udakaiḥ: with water (udaka) containing all medicinal herbs

• siktān: sprinkled/anointed

• piṣṭātaka-vibhūṣitān: ornamented with piṣṭātaka (a paste-like decorative preparation)

• vṛkṣān: the trees

• mālyaiḥ: with garlands

• alaṃkṛtya: having decorated

• vāsobhiḥ: with cloth/garments

• abhiveṣṭayet: should wrap around/encircle (as an auspicious binding).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this instructional passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Auṣadhi (medicinal herbs)
• Vṛkṣa (sacred trees)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Ritual purification
• Tree worship
• Auspicious decoration
• Consecration

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious purification and adornment rites, using herb-infused water and ceremonial decoration to sanctify trees and, by extension, a sacred site.

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

It supports the king’s/householder’s duty to maintain ritual purity and auspiciousness in public and domestic sacred spaces—performing prescribed acts of cleansing (sprinkling), honoring (garlands), and protection/marking sanctity (wrapping with cloth).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it describes a standard consecratory/auspicious procedure used in Vastu-linked contexts: sanctifying trees associated with a site (temple grounds, entrances, precincts) through herb-water sprinkling and formal ornamentation (paste, garlands, cloth).