Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — Ritual Procedure and Merit of Donating the Ratnācala

Devanagari script

धान्यपर्वतवत्सर्वम् अत्रापि परिकल्पयेत् तद्वदावाहनं कुर्याद् वृक्षान्देवांश्च काञ्चनान् //

Transliteration

dhānyaparvatavatsarvam atrāpi parikalpayet tadvadāvāhanaṃ kuryād vṛkṣāndevāṃśca kāñcanān //

Translation

Here too, one should arrange everything in the manner of a “mountain of grain”; and in the same way one should perform the āvāhana (invocation) of the trees and of the deities fashioned in gold.

Word by Word

• धान्य-पर्वत-वत्: like a mountain of grain

• सर्वम्: everything

• अत्र-अपि: here also/in this context too

• परिकल्पयेत्: one should arrange/construct/prepare

• तत्-वत्: in that same manner

• आवाहनम्: invocation/ritual calling

• कुर्यात्: should perform

• वृक्षान्: (sacred) trees

• देवान्-च: and deities

• काञ्चनान्: golden/made of gold

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a ritual/vidhi section)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Devāḥ (deities)
• Vṛkṣāḥ (sacred trees)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual
• Avahana
• Iconography
• Temple Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to a prescriptive ritual context, emphasizing correct arrangement and invocation (āvāhana) rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It frames dharmic duty as careful performance of sanctioned rites—preparing the ritual setting properly and invoking the divine presence correctly—an expected responsibility for householders and royal patrons supporting temples and public worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It highlights a specific ritual-setup principle: arrange offerings/structures in a prescribed model (“grain-mountain” style) and then perform āvāhana for sacred trees and golden deity-forms—pointing to consecration-oriented Vastu/Pratima practice.