Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Ananta-Tritiya

Devanagari script

विधवा धातुरक्तानि कुमारी शुक्लवाससी देवीं तु पञ्चगव्येन ततः क्षीरेण केवलम् स्नापयेन्मधुना तद्वत् पुष्पगन्धोदकेन च //

Transliteration

vidhavā dhāturaktāni kumārī śuklavāsasī devīṃ tu pañcagavyena tataḥ kṣīreṇa kevalam snāpayenmadhunā tadvat puṣpagandhodakena ca //

Translation

A widow should use red mineral pigment (dhātu-rakta), and an unmarried maiden, clad in white garments, should bathe the Goddess—first with pañcagavya, then with pure milk alone; likewise she should bathe Her with honey, and also with water fragrant with flowers.

Word by Word

• विधवा (vidhavā): a widow

• धातुरक्तानि (dhātu-raktāni): red mineral pigments/ochre-like red coloring substances

• कुमारी (kumārī): an unmarried maiden/virgin girl

• शुक्लवाससी (śukla-vāsasī): wearing white garments

• देवीं (devīm): the Goddess (the deity)

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• पञ्चगव्येन (pañcagavyena): with pañcagavya (five cow-products used ritually)

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter/then

• क्षीरेण (kṣīreṇa): with milk

• केवलम् (kevalam): only/purely

• स्नापयेत् (snāpayet): should bathe (the deity)

• मधुना (madhunā): with honey

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise/in the same manner

• पुष्पगन्धोदकेन (puṣpa-gandhodakena): with water perfumed by flowers

• च (ca): and/also

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Devī (Goddess)
• Pañcagavya
• Kṣīra (milk)
• Madhu (honey)
• Puṣpa-gandha-udaka (flower-scented water)

Tags

• Puja Vidhi
• Abhisheka
• Devī Worship
• Ritual Purity
• Matsya Purana Rituals

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on ritual bathing (abhisheka/snāpana) substances and purity protocols in Devī worship.

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

It reflects the householder’s (and a ruler’s, as patron) duty to maintain dharmic worship through proper ritual purity—using sanctioned offerings like pañcagavya, milk, honey, and flower-scented water when honoring the deity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies abhisheka materials for the Goddess—pañcagavya, milk, honey, and flower-fragrant water—key to temple worship routines and consecration-style purity practices.