Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Śarkarā-Saptamī Vrata: The Sugar Offering Rite to Savitṛ

Devanagari script

अमृतं पिबतो वक्त्रात् सूर्यस्यामृतबिन्दवः निपेतुर्ये धरण्यां तु शालिमुद्गेक्षवः स्मृताः //

Transliteration

amṛtaṃ pibato vaktrāt sūryasyāmṛtabindavaḥ nipeturye dharaṇyāṃ tu śālimudgekṣavaḥ smṛtāḥ //

Translation

As the Sun drank the nectar, drops of that nectar fell from his mouth onto the earth; those drops are remembered as rice, green gram, and sugarcane.

Word by Word

• amṛtam: nectar/ambrosia

• pibataḥ: while drinking (of one who drinks)

• vaktrāt: from the mouth

• sūryasya: of the Sun

• amṛta-bindavaḥ: drops of nectar

• nipetuḥ: fell down

• ye: which

• dharaṇyām: upon the earth

• tu: indeed

• śāli: rice (paddy)

• mudga: green gram (mung bean)

• ikṣavaḥ: sugarcanes

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/are traditionally held to be

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the standard Matsya Purana dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (the Sun)
• Amrita (nectar)
• Dharani (Earth)
• Shali (rice)
• Mudga (green gram)
• Ikshu (sugarcane)

Tags

• Cosmogony
• Origins of crops
• Amrita
• Surya
• Puranic etiology

FAQs

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

It gives an etiological creation detail: certain staple crops arise from amṛta-droplets linked to Sūrya, emphasizing divine, life-sustaining origins rather than describing dissolution.

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

By sacralizing key food-crops (rice, mudga, sugarcane), it supports the dharmic duty of ensuring agriculture, food distribution, and proper offerings—central to household rites and royal welfare policies.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, these crops are validated as auspicious, fit for naivedya and yajña materials; architecturally, there is no direct Vāstu rule here, but it underpins temple/household provisioning for daily offerings.