Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञकर्मण्यवर्तन्त कर्मण्यग्रे तथर्त्विजः हूयमाने देवहोत्रे अग्नौ बहुविधं हविः //

Transliteration

yajñakarmaṇyavartanta karmaṇyagre tathartvijaḥ hūyamāne devahotre agnau bahuvidhaṃ haviḥ //

Translation

The priests (ṛtvij) were fully engaged in the sacrificial rite, standing at the forefront of the ritual acts; and as oblations (havis) were poured into the fire—consecrated for the gods—many kinds of offerings were made.

Word by Word

• यज्ञकर्मणि (yajñakarmaṇi): in the sacrificial rite

• अवर्तन्त (avartanta): were engaged / proceeded

• कर्मणि (karmaṇi): in the ritual act / in the performance

• अग्रे (agre): in front / at the forefront

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• ऋत्विजः (ārtvijaḥ/ṛtvijaḥ): officiating priests

• हूयमाने (hūyamāne): while being offered / as was being poured (into fire)

• देवहोत्रे (devahotre): in the oblation meant for the gods / pertaining to divine offering

• अग्नौ (agnau): in the fire

• बहुविधम् (bahuvidham): of many kinds

• हविः (haviḥ): oblation / sacrificial offering.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta conveying the account—speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Ṛtvij (Vedic priests)
• Devas (implied by devahotra)

Tags

• Yajna
• Dharma
• Vedic Ritual
• Agni
• Offerings

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it depicts orderly Vedic sacrificial action, emphasizing dharmic continuity through yajña rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By highlighting priests properly conducting offerings into Agni, the verse supports the householder/royal duty of sustaining yajñas—patronage, correct procedure, and support of ṛtvijas as a pillar of social and cosmic order (dharma).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it stresses correct homa practice: officiating priests at the forefront and multiple appropriate havis being offered into the devahotra fire—key markers of a properly executed yajña.