Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

या दिव्येत्यर्घ्यमुत्सृज्य दद्याद्गन्धादिकांस्ततः हस्तात्तदुदकं पूर्वं दत्त्वा संस्रवमादितः //

Transliteration

yā divyetyarghyamutsṛjya dadyādgandhādikāṃstataḥ hastāttadudakaṃ pūrvaṃ dattvā saṃsravamāditaḥ //

Translation

Reciting “yā divyā…”, one should pour out the arghya-offering; thereafter one should present fragrant substances and the other ritual articles. From the hand, one should first let that water be given as a preliminary trickle (saṃsrava), right at the beginning.

Word by Word

• yā divyā iti: (with the mantra beginning) “yā divyā…”

• arghyam: arghya, respectful water-offering

• utsṛjya: having poured out/let fall (as an offering)

• dadyāt: one should give

• gandha-ādikān: perfumes/fragrances and the like (incense, flowers, etc.)

• tataḥ: thereafter

• hastāt: from the hand

• tad-udakam: that water

• pūrvam: first/beforehand

• dattvā: having given/letting flow

• saṃsravam: a small preliminary outflow/trickle of water (ritual rinsing/introductory pour)

• āditaḥ: at the outset, in the beginning

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual-vidhi context)

Entities Mentioned

• Arghya
• Gandha (fragrance)
• Saṃsrava (preliminary water trickle)

Tags

• Ritual
• Arghya
• Puja
• Upachara
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it focuses on correct ritual sequencing in worship—how arghya and accompanying offerings are to be presented.

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

It outlines disciplined pūjā-conduct: a householder (and by extension a king upholding dharma) should follow a precise order—arghya with mantra, then upacāras like fragrance—maintaining ritual cleanliness and correctness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is procedural: the “saṃsrava” indicates an initial, controlled trickle/pour of water from the hand before the main act, emphasizing purity, proper commencement, and the correct upacāra sequence in worship.