Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

दिवाकर नमस्ते ऽस्तु प्रभाकर नमो ऽस्तु ते एवं सूर्यं नमस्कृत्य त्रिः कृत्वाथ प्रदक्षिणम् द्विजं गां काञ्चनं स्पृष्ट्वा ततो विष्णुगृहं व्रजेत् //

Transliteration

divākara namaste 'stu prabhākara namo 'stu te evaṃ sūryaṃ namaskṛtya triḥ kṛtvātha pradakṣiṇam dvijaṃ gāṃ kāñcanaṃ spṛṣṭvā tato viṣṇugṛhaṃ vrajet //

Translation

O Sun, maker of day—salutations to you. O Illuminator—homage to you. Thus, having bowed to Sūrya and performed circumambulation three times, after touching a brāhmaṇa, a cow, and gold, one should then proceed to the house (temple) of Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• divākaraḥ: maker of day (the Sun)

• namas te astu: may salutations be to you

• prabhākaraḥ: light-maker/illuminator (the Sun)

• namaḥ astu te: homage be to you

• evam: thus

• sūryam: to/unto the Sun

• namaskṛtya: having saluted

• triḥ: three times

• kṛtvā: having done

• atha: then

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation (keeping the right side toward the deity)

• dvijam: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)

• gām: a cow

• kāñcanam: gold

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched

• tataḥ: thereafter

• viṣṇu-gṛham: Viṣṇu’s house/temple

• vrajet: one should go/proceed

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (didactic narration typical of Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Vishnu
• Dvija (Brahmana)
• Cow (Go)
• Gold (Kanchana)

Tags

• Surya Upasana
• Vishnu Temple
• Pradakshina
• Purification
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a ritual sequence—honoring Sūrya, performing three pradakṣiṇas, and then proceeding to Viṣṇu’s temple—emphasizing devotional order and purity rather than cosmology.

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

It functions as a dharmic guideline for daily or occasional worship: a disciplined approach to devotion (Sūrya-vandana followed by Viṣṇu-darśana) and markers of auspicious purity (touching a brāhmaṇa, cow, and gold) suitable for householders and rulers alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it mandates triḥ-pradakṣiṇā (three circumambulations) and an auspicious purification gesture before entering viṣṇu-gṛha (a Viṣṇu shrine/temple), reflecting temple-entry etiquette often aligned with Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra–style sacred-space protocols.