Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

दर्भपाणिस्तु विधिना आचान्तः प्रयतः शुचिः चतुर्हस्तसमायुक्तं चतुरस्रं समन्ततः प्रकल्प्यावाहयेद् गङ्गाम् एभिर्मन्त्रैर्विचक्षणः //

Transliteration

darbhapāṇistu vidhinā ācāntaḥ prayataḥ śuciḥ caturhastasamāyuktaṃ caturasraṃ samantataḥ prakalpyāvāhayed gaṅgām ebhirmantrairvicakṣaṇaḥ //

Translation

Holding kuśa-grass in his hand, and having duly performed ācamana, disciplined and pure, the adept should prepare on all sides a square measuring four hastas, and then, with these mantras, skillfully invoke the presence of the River-Goddess Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• दर्भपाणिः (darbhapāṇiḥ): with kuśa/darbha grass in hand

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• विधिना (vidhinā): according to rule

• आचान्तः (ācāntaḥ): having sipped water ritually (ācamana)

• प्रयतः (prayataḥ): self-restrained, disciplined

• शुचिः (śuciḥ): pure/clean

• चतुर्हस्तसमायुक्तम् (catur-hasta-samāyuktam): measuring four hastas (cubits)

• चतुरस्रम् (caturasram): square

• समन्ततः (samantataḥ): on all sides, all around

• प्रकल्प्य (prakalpya): having arranged/prepared

• आवाहयेत् (āvāhayet): should invoke (ritually invite)

• गङ्गाम् (gaṅgām): Gaṅgā

• एभिः मन्त्रैः (ebhiḥ mantraiḥ): with these mantras

• विचक्षणः (vicakṣaṇaḥ): the knowledgeable/skillful one.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relaying Matsya Purāṇa’s ritual instruction (vidhi) in a prescriptive voice

Entities Mentioned

• Gaṅgā
• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• Ācamana

Tags

• Tirtha
• Ganga-Avahana
• Ritual
• Purification
• Mantra-Vidhi

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on ritual purity and the formal invocation (āvāhana) of Gaṅgā through ācamana, darbha, and a prepared square ritual space.

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

It outlines a standard dharmic procedure for a disciplined practitioner—relevant to householders and rulers alike—emphasizing cleanliness (śuci), self-restraint (prayata), and correct performance of rites (vidhi) before sacred acts like bathing or worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes preparing a caturasra (square) maṇḍala of four hastas as the designated sacred space for mantra-based invocation—an example of precise spatial measurement used in Purāṇic ritual practice (often aligned with Vastu-style geometric ordering).