Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Saptamī Sacred Bath and the Mṛtavatsābhiṣeka Rite for Pacifying Misfortune an...

Devanagari script

गोमयेनानुलिप्तायां भूमावेकाग्निवत्तदा तण्डुलै रक्तशालीयैश् चरुं गोक्षीरसंयुतम् निर्वपेत्सूर्यरुद्राभ्यां तन्मन्त्राभ्यां विधानतः //

Transliteration

gomayenānuliptāyāṃ bhūmāvekāgnivattadā taṇḍulai raktaśālīyaiś caruṃ gokṣīrasaṃyutam nirvapetsūryarudrābhyāṃ tanmantrābhyāṃ vidhānataḥ //

Translation

Then, on ground plastered with cow-dung, one should establish the sacred fire as for the one-fire rite. Using grains of red śāli-rice, he should prepare a caru (cooked oblation) mixed with cow’s milk, and offer it duly with the mantras of Sūrya and Rudra, according to the prescribed rule.

Word by Word

• गोमयेन (gomayena): with cow-dung

• अनुलिप्तायाम् (anuliptāyām): plastered/smeared

• भूमौ (bhūmau): on the ground

• एकाग्निवत् (ekāgnivat): as in the one-fire rite (single sacred fire procedure)

• तदा (tadā): then

• तण्डुलैः (taṇḍulaiḥ): with rice-grains

• रक्तशालीयैः (raktaśālīyaiḥ): of red śāli-rice

• चरुम् (carum): caru, a cooked oblation (rice-porridge offering)

• गोक्षीरसंयुतम् (gokṣīrasaṃyutam): mixed with cow’s milk

• निर्वपेत् (nirvapet): should offer/place into the fire as an oblation

• सूर्यरुद्राभ्याम् (sūryarudrābhyām): to/for Sūrya and Rudra

• तन्मन्त्राभ्याम् (tanmantrābhyām): with their respective mantras

• विधानतः (vidhānataḥ): according to injunction/ritual rule.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Sūrya
• Rudra

Tags

• Homa
• Ritual
• Mantra
• Householder Dharma
• Vedic Offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it prescribes a practical fire-offering (homa) method, emphasizing purity of the ritual ground and correct mantra-based oblations.

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

It reflects dharmic duty through regulated worship: maintaining sacred fire discipline, preparing prescribed offerings (caru), and performing deity-directed oblations with correct mantras—acts applicable to householders and also to kings sponsoring rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies altar/ground preparation (cow-dung plastering), a one-fire setup (ekāgni-style), and the precise offering substance (red śāli rice caru with cow’s milk) to be offered with Sūrya–Rudra mantras.