Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Saubhagya-Śayana Vow: Lalitā/Gaurī–Śiva Worship

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठे मन्दारकुसुमं बिल्वपत्त्रं शुचौ स्मृतम् श्रावणे दधि संप्राश्यं नभस्ये च कुशोदकम् //

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhe mandārakusumaṃ bilvapattraṃ śucau smṛtam śrāvaṇe dadhi saṃprāśyaṃ nabhasye ca kuśodakam //

Translation

In the month of Jyeṣṭha, one should offer mandāra flowers; in Śuci (Āṣāḍha), bilva leaves are prescribed. In Śrāvaṇa one should partake of curd (dadhi), and in Nabhasya (Bhādrapada) one should use water sanctified with kuśa grass (kuśodaka).

Word by Word

• jyeṣṭhe: in (the month of) Jyeṣṭha

• mandāra-kusumam: mandāra blossoms (flowers for worship)

• bilva-pattram: bilva leaves

• śucau: in Śuci (a month-name, commonly Āṣāḍha)

• smṛtam: is remembered/prescribed (by tradition)

• śrāvaṇe: in Śrāvaṇa

• dadhi: curd/yogurt

• saṃprāśyam: to be eaten/partaken of

• nabhasye: in Nabhasya (a month-name, commonly Bhādrapada)

• ca: and

• kuśa-udakam: kuśa-water, water ritually purified with kuśa grass.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the Matsya Purana’s didactic dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Mandāra
• Bilva
• Kuśa

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual
• Monthly observance
• Puja materials
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it belongs to a ritual-calendar instruction section, prescribing month-wise offerings and purificatory items for regular dharmic observance.

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

It frames dharma as disciplined, time-bound practice: a householder (and by extension a king setting public norms) maintains religious order through month-specific worship materials and regulated dietary/ritual acts like taking curd in Śrāvaṇa and using kuśa-purified water in Nabhasya.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies proper upacāra materials by month—mandāra flowers, bilva leaves, and kuśa-water—indicating seasonal liturgical correctness in pūjā and purification (śuddhi) procedures rather than temple architecture.