Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

अश्वक्रान्ते रथक्रान्ते विष्णुक्रान्ते वसुंधरे मृत्तिके हर मे पापं यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतम् //

Transliteration

aśvakrānte rathakrānte viṣṇukrānte vasuṃdhare mṛttike hara me pāpaṃ yanmayā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam //

Translation

O Earth—trodden by horses, trodden by chariots, and sanctified by Viṣṇu’s stride—O sacred clay, remove my sin, whatever evil deed has been done by me.

Word by Word

aśva-krāntetrodden by horses

ratha-krāntetrodden by chariots

viṣṇu-krāntestepped upon/sanctified by Viṣṇu’s stride

vasuṃdhareO Earth (supporter of wealth/treasures)

mṛttikeO clay/earth (used for ritual purification)

hararemove, take away

memy

pāpamsin, demerit

yatwhatever

mayāby me

duṣkṛtamwrongdoing, evil act

kṛtamdone, committed

Speaker

Sūta (narrative voice), presenting a ritual mantra used by a householder during purification with sacred earth (mṛttikā)

Entities Mentioned

VishnuEarth (Vasundharā)Mṛttikā (sacred clay)

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it reflects a post-Vedic Purāṇic view of Earth as a sacred purifier, where contact with consecrated earth (mṛttikā) and remembrance of Viṣṇu’s cosmic stride helps remove moral impurity.

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

It supports the householder’s dharma of daily purification and repentance: acknowledging one’s duṣkṛta (wrong acts) and using prescribed rites (mṛttikā/earth, mantra) to restore ritual and ethical cleanliness before worship and social duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it is a mantra for cleansing with sacred earth; architecturally (Vāstu context), it reflects the sanctity of soil/ground—earth is treated as potent and to be ritually respected before using it in sacred acts (bathing rites, consecrations, and ground-related ceremonies).