Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — The Madana-Dvādaśī Vow and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

नमः सर्वात्मने मौलिम् अर्चयेदिति केशवम् ततः प्रभाते तं कुम्भं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

namaḥ sarvātmane maulim arcayediti keśavam tataḥ prabhāte taṃ kumbhaṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet //

Translation

Saying, “Homage to the All-Self,” one should worship Keśava with a crown or head-ornament. Then, at daybreak, one should present that consecrated water-pot (kumbha) to a brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: homage/salutation

• sarvātmane: to the All-Self (the inner Self of all beings)

• maulim: a crown/head-ornament (also ‘upon the head’)

• arcayet: one should worship

• iti: thus/saying

• keśavam: Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter

• prabhāte: at dawn/daybreak

• tam: that

• kumbham: water-pot/ritual pitcher

• brāhmaṇāya: to a brāhmaṇa

• nivedayet: one should offer/present.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructional narration to Vaivasvata Manu, within vrata/dāna teaching style)

Entities Mentioned

• Keśava (Vishnu)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Kumbha (ritual water-pot)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Vishnu worship
• Kumbha-dāna
• Ritual procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual worship of Keśava and the meritorious act of gifting a consecrated kumbha to a brāhmaṇa at dawn.

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

It frames dharma as disciplined devotion and generosity: perform Viṣṇu-worship with proper honors and then complete the observance through dāna (gifting the ritual kumbha), a core duty for householders and righteous rulers supporting the learned.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a puja-sequence: invoke “namaḥ sarvātmane,” worship Keśava with a mauli (crown/head-ornament offering), and then at dawn formally donate the kumbha—typical of kumbha-pratiṣṭhā/vrata completions rather than temple architecture rules.