Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

कीर्तयेत्सूर्यदेवत्यं सप्तर्चं च घृताहुतीः जुहुयाद्रुद्रसूक्तेन तद्वद्रुद्राय नारद //

Transliteration

kīrtayetsūryadevatyaṃ saptarcaṃ ca ghṛtāhutīḥ juhuyādrudrasūktena tadvadrudrāya nārada //

Translation

One should recite the seven-verse hymn addressed to the Sun-deity, and offer oblations of ghee. Then, using the Rudra-sūkta, one should perform the fire-offering; and in the same manner, offer to Rudra as well—O Nārada.

Word by Word

• kīrtayet: should recite/praise

• sūrya-devatyam: addressed to the Sun-deity

• sapta-arcam: the seven verses (seven ṛks)

• ca: and

• ghṛta-āhutīḥ: ghee oblations

• juhuyāt: should offer into the fire (perform homa)

• rudra-sūktena: with the Rudra hymn (Rudra-sūkta)

• tadvat: likewise/in the same way

• rudrāya: to Rudra

• nārada: O Nārada (vocative)

Speaker

• Unspecified Purāṇic narrator addressing Nārada (instructional passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūrya (Sun-deity)
• Rudra
• Nārada
• Rudra-sūkta
• Sapta-ṛk (seven-verse hymn)

Tags

• Homa
• Surya-upasana
• Rudra-upasana
• Mantra-vidhi
• Vedic-hymns

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches a practical ritual sequence—recitation and ghee-offerings for Sūrya, followed by homa using the Rudra-sūkta for Rudra.

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

It frames dharmic duty as correct performance of worship: a householder (and by extension a king as patron of rites) should conduct mantra-based homa with proper hymns and āhutis to uphold religious order and merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it specifies mantra selection (Sūrya’s seven-verse hymn and the Rudra-sūkta) and the offering substance (ghee) for a correctly ordered homa.