Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

स्थापयेदुदकुम्भं च शर्करापात्रसंयुतम् शुक्लवस्त्रैरलंकृत्य शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनैः सुवर्णेन समायुक्तं मन्त्रेणानेन पूजयेत् //

Transliteration

sthāpayedudakumbhaṃ ca śarkarāpātrasaṃyutam śuklavastrairalaṃkṛtya śuklamālyānulepanaiḥ suvarṇena samāyuktaṃ mantreṇānena pūjayet //

Translation

One should set up a water-filled ritual pot (kalaśa) together with a vessel of śarkarā (sugar); adorning it with white cloth and decorating it with white garlands and white unguents, and furnishing it with gold, one should worship it with this very mantra.

Word by Word

• स्थापयेत् (sthāpayet): should स्थापित/establish

• उदकुम्भम् (udakumbham): water-pot, ritual kalaśa

• च (ca): and

• शर्करापात्रसंयुतम् (śarkarāpātra-saṃyutam): accompanied by/connected with a sugar vessel

• शुक्लवस्त्रैः (śukla-vastraiḥ): with white cloths/garments

• अलंकृत्य (alaṃkṛtya): having adorned/decorated

• शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनैः (śukla-mālyānulepanaiḥ): with white garlands and anointments (fragrant paste/unguents)

• सुवर्णेन (suvarṇena): with gold

• समायुक्तम् (samāyuktam): furnished/combined/associated

• मन्त्रेण (mantreṇa): with a mantra

• अनेन (anena): with this (one)

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship/honour.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, describing ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Udakumbha (Kalasha)
• Mantra
• Suvarna (Gold)
• Sharkara (Sugar)

Tags

• Puja
• Kalasha
• Ritual items
• Mantra
• Matsya Purana worship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual worship—specifically the auspicious setup and honoring of a water-pot (kalaśa) using prescribed pure (white) materials and offerings.

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

It reflects the householder/royal duty of maintaining dharmic rites: performing orderly worship with purity markers (white cloth, garlands, unguents) and proper offerings, reinforcing prosperity, auspiciousness, and religious discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it describes kalaśa-sthāpana: installing a sanctified water pot with adjunct offerings (sugar, gold) and worshipping it by mantra—an essential preparatory rite used in temple rituals, consecrations, and major ceremonies.