Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

एते स्मृता देवकृत्याः सोमपाश्चोष्मपाश्च ये तांस्तेन तर्पयामास यावदासीत्पुरूरवाः //

Transliteration

ete smṛtā devakṛtyāḥ somapāścoṣmapāśca ye tāṃstena tarpayāmāsa yāvadāsītpurūravāḥ //

Translation

These are remembered as the “divine functionaries” (devakṛtya)—the Somapās and the Ūṣmapās; and Purūravas, for as long as he lived, continually satisfied them through that rite of offering (tarpana).

Word by Word

• ete: these

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/are traditionally known

• deva-kṛtyāḥ: divine functionaries/those who perform duties for the gods

• somapāḥ: the Somapās (a class of divine beings who partake of Soma)

• ca: and

• ūṣmapāḥ: the Ūṣmapās (a class of divine beings associated with ‘vapour/heat’ offerings)

• ca: and

• ye: who/which

• tān: them

• tena: by that (rite/means previously described)

• tarpayāmāsa: he gratified/satisfied (by offerings)

• yāvat: as long as

• āsīt: he was/existed (lived)

• purūravāḥ: King Purūravas.

Speaker

• Sūta/Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Purūravas
• Somapāḥ (Somapās)
• Ūṣmapāḥ (Ūṣmapās)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Ritual
• Tarpana
• Pitr-yajña
• Deva-gaṇa

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual continuity—how Purūravas maintained offerings (tarpana) to specific divine classes.

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

It presents a model of dharma: a ruler sustains cosmic order by regular sacrificial remembrance and offerings (tarpana) to recognized divine groups, implying disciplined, lifelong ritual responsibility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it highlights tarpana—acts of satisfaction/oblations—directed to Somapās and Ūṣmapās as part of prescribed devotional-sacrificial observances.