Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

औदुम्बराय दध्नाय नीलाय परमेष्ठिने वृकोदराय चित्राय चित्रगुप्ताय वै नमः दर्भपाणिस्तु विधिना पितॄन्संतर्पयेद्बुधः //

Transliteration

audumbarāya dadhnāya nīlāya parameṣṭhine vṛkodarāya citrāya citraguptāya vai namaḥ darbhapāṇistu vidhinā pitṝnsaṃtarpayedbudhaḥ //

Translation

Salutations indeed to Audumbara, Dadhnā, Nīla, Parameṣṭhin, Vṛkodara, Citra, and Citragupta. Holding darbha grass in his hand, the wise man should, according to the prescribed rite, satisfy the Pitṛs by tarpaṇa (libations).

Word by Word

औदुम्बराय (audumbarāya)to Audumbara (a named deity/attendant invoked in tarpaṇa)

दध्नाय (dadhnāya)to Dadhnā (a named deity/attendant invoked)

नीलाय (nīlāya)to Nīla

परमेष्ठिने (parameṣṭhine)to Parameṣṭhin (the Most-Exalted, a high divine epithet)

वृकोदराय (vṛkodarāya)to Vṛkodara (a named deity/attendant invoked)

चित्राय (citrāya)to Citra

चित्रगुप्ताय (citraguptāya)to Citragupta (recorder of deeds, associated with Yama’s court)

वै (vai)indeed/assuredly

नमः (namaḥ)salutation

दर्भपाणिः (darbhapāṇiḥ)one whose hand holds darbha (kuśa) grass

तु (tu)and/then

विधिना (vidhinā)according to rule/ritual injunction

पितৄन् (pitṝn)the ancestors (Pitṛs)

संतर्पयेत् (saṃtarpayet)should satisfy/propitiate by libations

बुधः (budhaḥ)the wise/learned person.

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the prescribed rite; presented within the Matsya Purana’s instructional discourse)

Entities Mentioned

PitṛsCitraguptaCitraNīlaParameṣṭhin

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a ritual instruction verse, focusing on mantras and the correct method of satisfying the ancestors (Pitṛs) through tarpaṇa.

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

It supports the householder’s dharma of honoring lineage and sustaining the ancestral rite: a learned person should perform Pitṛ-tarpaṇa properly (with darbha and prescribed mantras), which is a key obligation in śrāddha-oriented duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it specifies proper tarpaṇa conduct—invoking specific names and performing the offering with darbha grass in hand, emphasizing correctness (vidhi) in śrāddha procedures.