Shloka 28

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Viśoka-Dvādaśī: A Lakṣmī–Viṣṇu Vow for Sorrow-Removal and P...

Devanagari script

उत्पलं करवीरं च बाणमम्लानकुङ्कुमम् केतकी सिन्दुवारं च मल्लिका गन्धपाटला कदम्बं कुब्जकं जातिः शस्तान्येतानि सर्वदा //

Transliteration

utpalaṃ karavīraṃ ca bāṇamamlānakuṅkumam ketakī sinduvāraṃ ca mallikā gandhapāṭalā kadambaṃ kubjakaṃ jātiḥ śastānyetāni sarvadā //

Translation

The blue lotus, karavīra (oleander), the bāṇa-flower, unfading kuṅkuma (saffron), ketakī, sinduvāra, mallikā (jasmine), the fragrant pāṭalā, kadamba, kubjaka, and jāti—these flowers are always esteemed as commendable offerings for worship.

Word by Word

• utpalam: blue lotus

• karavīram: oleander

• ca: and

• bāṇam: bāṇa-flower (a named fragrant blossom used in offerings)

• amlāna-kuṅkumam: unfading saffron/kuṅkuma

• ketakī: pandanus/ketakī flower

• sinduvāram: sinduvāra (vitex/negundo) flower

• mallikā: jasmine

• gandha-pāṭalā: fragrant pāṭalā (trumpet-flower/tree blossom)

• kadambam: kadamba flower

• kubjakam: kubjaka (a named flower/plant used ritually)

• jātiḥ: jāti jasmine

• śastāni: praised/approved

• etāni: these

• sarvadā: always

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the didactic discourse style of the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Utpala
• Karavira
• Ketaki
• Sinduvāra
• Mallikā
• Pāṭalā
• Kadamba
• Jāti
• Kuṅkuma

Tags

• Puja
• Ritual Offerings
• Flowers
• Dharma
• Temple Worship

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is prescriptive ritual guidance, listing flowers considered perpetually suitable for devotional offerings rather than describing pralaya or cosmology.

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

It supports nitya-karma and pūjā-dharma: a householder (and by extension a king who upholds public religion) maintains auspicious worship by offering approved, pure, and fragrant flowers as part of daily or festival observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a canonical list of “always acceptable” (śasta) flowers for deity worship in temples and home shrines—useful for puja procedure, festival planning, and temple service standards.