Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Ananta-Tritiya

Devanagari script

गीतमङ्गलनिर्घोषान् कारयित्वा सुवासिनीः पूजयेद्रक्तवासोभी रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनैः सिन्दूरं स्नानचूर्णं च तासां शिरसि पातयेत् //

Transliteration

gītamaṅgalanirghoṣān kārayitvā suvāsinīḥ pūjayedraktavāsobhī raktamālyānulepanaiḥ sindūraṃ snānacūrṇaṃ ca tāsāṃ śirasi pātayet //

Translation

Having arranged auspicious singing and festive acclamations, one should honor the married women (suvāsinīs) with red garments, red garlands, and red unguents; and one should sprinkle vermilion (sindūra) and bathing-powder upon their heads.

Word by Word

• gīta: song/singing

• maṅgala-nirghoṣān: auspicious cries/acclamations

• kārayitvā: having caused/arranged

• suvāsinīḥ: auspicious married women

• pūjayet: should worship/honor

• rakta-vāsobhiḥ: with red garments

• rakta-mālya: red garlands

• anulepanaiḥ: with unguents/pastes for anointing

• sindūram: vermilion

• snāna-cūrṇam: bathing powder/scented bath-powder

• ca: and

• tāsām: of them

• śirasi: on (their) head

• pātayet: should cause to fall/sprinkle/place.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s ritual injunctions

Entities Mentioned

• Suvāsinīḥ

Tags

• Puja
• Vrata
• Suvāsinī
• Mangala
• Ritual offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it prescribes auspicious ritual actions—music, acclamations, and honoring suvāsinīs—within a worship/vrata context.

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

It reflects household dharma and social-religious etiquette: a patron (often a householder, and by extension a king in public rites) should conduct auspicious celebrations and respectfully honor married women with appropriate offerings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies mangala elements (song and auspicious cries) and the use of red items—cloth, garlands, unguents—plus sindūra and bath-powder as ceremonial honors for suvāsinīs.