Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

यस्मात्प्रसूयते सोमो मासि मासि विशेषतः ततः स्वधाभृतं तद्वै पितॄणां सोमपायिनाम् एतत्तदमृतं सोमम् अवाप मधु चैव हि //

Transliteration

yasmātprasūyate somo māsi māsi viśeṣataḥ tataḥ svadhābhṛtaṃ tadvai pitṝṇāṃ somapāyinām etattadamṛtaṃ somam avāpa madhu caiva hi //

Translation

Because Soma is generated anew—month after month, in a special manner—from that (Soma) arises the Svadhā-bearing portion that truly belongs to the Pitṛs, the ancestors who drink Soma. Indeed, it is that Soma, immortal in nature (amṛta), which is obtained; and it is also called “madhu,” the sweet, honey-like essence.

Word by Word

• यस्मात् (yasmāt): because/from which

• प्रसूयते (prasūyate): is produced, is generated

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the lunar nectar/oblation

• मासि मासि (māsi māsi): month by month

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially, in a distinctive manner

• ततः (tataḥ): from that, therefore

• स्वधाभृतम् (svadhā-bhṛtam): that which bears Svadhā (the ancestral offering-formula/essence)

• तत् वै (tad vai): that indeed

• पितॄणाम् (pitṝṇām): of the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• सोमपायिनाम् (soma-pāyinām): of those who drink Soma

• एतत् तत् (etat tad): this very same

• अमृतम् (amṛtam): immortal, nectar-like

• सोमम् (somam): Soma

• अवाप (avāpa): obtains/attains

• मधु (madhu): honey, sweetness, essence

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• हि (hi): for, indeed.

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu) in the ongoing instructional dialogue of the Matsya Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Pitṛs
• Svadhā
• Madhu (as essence)

Tags

• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa
• Soma
• Vedic ritual
• Ancestral rites

FAQs

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

It does not discuss Pralaya directly; it explains a cyclical cosmic-ritual principle: Soma is renewed monthly, and that renewal underwrites the Pitṛs’ share (svadhā) in ancestral rites.

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

It supports the householder’s (and thus the king’s) duty to maintain Pitṛ-yajña: performing Śrāddha/Tarpaṇa with the proper ancestral portion (svadhā), acknowledging Soma as the sustaining ritual essence for the Pitṛs.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it identifies Soma as the ‘amṛta/madhu’ essence and the svadhā-bearing share meant for Soma-drinking Pitṛs—key theology behind correct Śrāddha offerings.