Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

ततश्चाचम्य विधिवद् आलिखेत्पद्ममग्रतः अक्षताभिः सपुष्पाभिः सजलारुणचन्दनम् अर्घ्यं दद्यात्प्रयत्नेन सूर्यनामानि कीर्तयेत् //

Transliteration

tataścācamya vidhivad ālikhetpadmamagrataḥ akṣatābhiḥ sapuṣpābhiḥ sajalāruṇacandanam arghyaṃ dadyātprayatnena sūryanāmāni kīrtayet //

Translation

Then, having performed ācamanā (ritual sipping of water) according to rule, one should draw a lotus in front. With akṣata (unbroken grains) and flowers, and with red sandalwood mixed with water, one should carefully offer arghya (a reverential water-offering) while reciting the names of Sūrya, the Sun.

Word by Word

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• च (ca): and

• आचम्य (ācamya): having performed ācamana (ritual sipping/purification)

• विधिवत् (vidhivat): according to rule/properly

• आलिखेत् (ālikhet): one should draw/inscribe

• पद्मम् (padmam): a lotus

• अग्रतः (agrataḥ): in front

• अक्षताभिः (akṣatābhiḥ): with akṣata (unbroken rice/grains)

• स-पुष्पाभिः (sa-puṣpābhiḥ): together with flowers

• स-जल-ारुण-चन्दनम् (sa-jala-āruṇa-candanam): red sandalwood paste mixed with water

• अर्घ्यम् (arghyam): arghya (water-offering of honor)

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): one should give/offer

• प्रयत्नेन (prayatnena): with care/effort

• सूर्य-नामानि (sūrya-nāmāni): the names of Sūrya

• कीर्तयेत् (kīrtayet): one should recite/praise/chant.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s discourse style)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya

Tags

• Surya Upasana
• Arghya
• Ritual Procedure
• Purification
• Mantra-Recitation

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches a practical rite of Sūrya-worship—purification (ācamana), setting a sacred symbol (lotus), and offering arghya with praise.

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

It outlines a disciplined daily/occasional devotional practice—purity, orderly ritual setup, and recitation of divine names—model duties for householders and rulers who must uphold dharma through regular worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes a front-facing sacred diagram (lotus) and specific materials (akṣata, flowers, red sandalwood-water) for arghya—showing how space and offerings are arranged in a precise, rule-based pūjā procedure.