Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Ārdrānandakarī Tṛtīyā Vrata: Ritual Procedure

Devanagari script

यदा शुक्लतृतीयायाम् आषाढर्क्षं भवेत्क्वचित् ब्रह्मर्क्षं वा मृगर्क्षं वा हस्तो मूलमथापि वा दर्भगन्धोदकैः स्नानं तदा सम्यक्समाचरेत् //

Transliteration

yadā śuklatṛtīyāyām āṣāḍharkṣaṃ bhavetkvacit brahmarkṣaṃ vā mṛgarkṣaṃ vā hasto mūlamathāpi vā darbhagandhodakaiḥ snānaṃ tadā samyaksamācaret //

Translation

Whenever, on the third lunar day of the bright fortnight (Śukla Tṛtīyā), the nakṣatra happens to be Āṣāḍhā, or Brahmā’s star Rohiṇī, or Mṛga (Mṛgaśīrṣa), or Hasta, or Mūla, then one should duly perform the ritual bath with kuśa-grass and fragrant water.

Word by Word

• yadā: when/whenever

• śukla-tṛtīyāyām: on the bright fortnight’s third lunar day

• āṣāḍha-ṛkṣam: the Āṣāḍhā nakṣatra (star-asterism)

• bhavet: occurs/is present

• kvacit: sometimes/at a given time

• brahma-ṛkṣam: ‘Brahmā’s star’ (commonly identified as Rohiṇī)

• vā: or

• mṛga-ṛkṣam: Mṛga nakṣatra (Mṛgaśīrṣa)

• hastaḥ: Hasta nakṣatra

• mūlam: Mūla nakṣatra

• athāpi: and also/likewise

• darbha: kuśa grass

• gandha-udakaiḥ: with scented/fragrant waters

• snānam: bathing/ritual bath

• tadā: then

• samyak: correctly, duly

• samācaret: should practice/should perform.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Śukla Tṛtīyā
• Āṣāḍhā Nakṣatra
• Brahmā Nakṣatra (Rohiṇī)
• Mṛgaśīrṣa Nakṣatra
• Hasta Nakṣatra
• Mūla Nakṣatra
• Darbha (Kuśa grass)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Snana
• Tithi
• Nakshatra
• Ritual Purity

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it gives a dharma-oriented timing rule for purification—an auspicious bath when Śukla Tṛtīyā coincides with specific nakṣatras.

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

It prescribes a calendrical discipline (tithi–nakṣatra observance) for maintaining ritual purity; such practices were expected of householders and rulers alike to uphold dharma and public religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is snāna-vidhi: bathing with darbha (kuśa grass) and fragrant water on specified lunar/stellar combinations—useful for vrata observance and preparatory purification before worship.