Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

प्रीयतां देवदेवो ऽत्र सद्योजातः पिनाकधृक् ततो विप्रान्समाहूय तर्पयेद्भक्तितः शुभान् पृषदाज्यं च संप्राश्य स्वपेद्भूमावुदङ्मुखः //

Transliteration

prīyatāṃ devadevo 'tra sadyojātaḥ pinākadhṛk tato viprānsamāhūya tarpayedbhaktitaḥ śubhān pṛṣadājyaṃ ca saṃprāśya svapedbhūmāvudaṅmukhaḥ //

Translation

“May the God of gods—Sadyōjāta, the bearer of the Pināka—be pleased here.” Then, having summoned auspicious brāhmaṇas, one should honour and satisfy them with devotion. Having also partaken of pṛṣadājya (a ghee preparation), one should sleep upon the ground, facing north.

Word by Word

• prīyatām: may (he) be pleased

• devadevaḥ: the God of gods

• atra: here (in this rite/place)

• sadyojātaḥ: Sadyōjāta (an epithet/aspect of Śiva)

• pinākadhṛk: bearer of the Pināka bow (Śiva)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter

• viprān: brāhmaṇas

• samāhūya: having called/summoned

• tarpayed: should satisfy/propitiate/offer respectful nourishment to

• bhaktitaḥ: with devotion

• śubhān: auspicious/virtuous

• pṛṣadājyaṃ: pṛṣadājya (a ritual ghee-preparation/food)

• ca: and

• saṃprāśya: having eaten/partaken

• svapet: should sleep

• bhūmau: on the ground

• udaṅmukhaḥ: with face turned north

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructor) to Vaivasvata Manu (listener), within a ritual-instruction passage

Entities Mentioned

• Sadyōjāta (Śiva)
• Pināka (Śiva’s bow)
• Brāhmaṇas (vipras)

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual
• Śiva
• Brāhmaṇa-honouring
• Austerity

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a ritual observance—propitiating Śiva (Sadyōjāta), honouring brāhmaṇas, and adopting an austerity (sleeping on the ground).

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

It frames dharmic conduct as devotional worship plus social-religious duty: inviting worthy brāhmaṇas, respectfully satisfying them, observing dietary restraint, and practising humility through simple sleeping arrangements.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): tarpaṇa/feeding of brāhmaṇas, consuming a prescribed ghee-preparation (pṛṣadājya), and the directional rule of sleeping north-facing as part of the observance.