Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Origin of Yajña in Tretā Yuga and the Debate on Animal Sacrifice vs. Non-...

Devanagari script

यथोपनीतैर्यष्टव्यम् इति होवाच पार्थिवः यष्टव्यं पशुभिर्मेध्यैर् अथ मूलफलैरपि //

Transliteration

yathopanītairyaṣṭavyam iti hovāca pārthivaḥ yaṣṭavyaṃ paśubhirmedhyair atha mūlaphalairapi //

Translation

The king said: “One should perform the sacrifice with whatever has been duly brought and presented. The rite may be carried out with pure (fit-for-sacrifice) animals, and also, when appropriate, with roots and fruits.”

Word by Word

• yathā-upanītaiḥ: with whatever has been properly brought/presented

• yaṣṭavyam: the sacrifice is to be performed/should be offered

• iti: thus

• ha-uvāca (hovāca): indeed said

• pārthivaḥ: the king

• paśubhiḥ: with animals

• medhyaiḥ: pure, sacrificially fit

• atha: and also/then

• mūla-phalaiḥ: with roots and fruits

• api: even/also.

Speaker

• The King (Pārthivaḥ)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Yajna
• RitualSubstitutes
• AhimsaContext
• Dana

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on practical dharma—what offerings are acceptable for performing a sacrifice.

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

It frames the king’s dharmic stance on yajña: the rite should be completed with duly obtained offerings, allowing both traditional animal offerings (when considered medhya) and non-violent alternatives like roots and fruits depending on circumstance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it authorizes permissible sacrificial materials, including sanctioned substitutes (mūla-phala), indicating flexibility in yajña performance while maintaining ritual purity (medhya).