Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

स्थण्डिले पद्ममालिख्य कुङ्कुमेन सकर्णिकम् तस्मिन्नमः सवित्रे तु गन्धधूपौ निवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

sthaṇḍile padmamālikhya kuṅkumena sakarṇikam tasminnamaḥ savitre tu gandhadhūpau nivedayet //

Translation

On a purified ground-space, one should draw a lotus with saffron (kuṅkuma), complete with its pericarp; upon that, offering reverence to Savitṛ, one should present fragrance and incense.

Word by Word

• स्थण्डिले: on level/purified ground

• पद्मम्: a lotus

• आलिख्य: having drawn/inscribed

• कुङ्कुमेन: with saffron/vermilion

• सकर्णिकम्: with the central pericarp (seed-vessel)

• तस्मिन्: on that (lotus/diagram)

• नमः: salutation

• सवित्रे: to Savitṛ (the Sun as impeller, a solar deity)

• तु: and/then

• गन्धधूपौ: perfume (fragrance) and incense

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present (ritually).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Savitṛ (Solar Deity)

Tags

• Savitri worship
• Ritual procedure
• Mandala/lotus diagram
• Incense offering
• Puja vidhi

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it preserves ritual order by prescribing a symbolic lotus-diagram and offerings for Savitṛ, reflecting cosmic harmony rather than dissolution.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of daily or periodic worship: preparing a clean worship-space, making a proper ritual diagram, and offering gandha and dhūpa as disciplined devotion and dharmic observance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes a ground-based lotus (a simple mandala/yantra) drawn with kumkuma, then the standard upacāras of fragrance and incense—key elements of orthodox puja procedure.