Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

सम्प्रतीतेषु देवेषु सामगेषु च सुस्वरम् परिक्रान्तेषु लघुषु अध्वर्युपुरुषेषु च //

Transliteration

sampratīteṣu deveṣu sāmageṣu ca susvaram parikrānteṣu laghuṣu adhvaryupuruṣeṣu ca //

Translation

When the deities have been duly invoked, when the Sāma-chanters (sāmaga) sing with a clear and auspicious tone, and when the swift-moving officiants—especially the Adhvaryu priests—make their rounds and perform their duties around the altar, the rite proceeds in its proper order.

Word by Word

• सम्प्रतीतेषु (sampratīteṣu): when duly invoked/when properly propitiated

• देवेषु (deveṣu): among the gods/with respect to the deities

• सामगेषु (sāmageṣu): among the Sāma-singers (Sāmavedic chanters)

• च (ca): and

• सुस्वरम् (susvaram): with good melody/clear tone

• परिक्रान्तेषु (parikrānteṣu): when moving around/when circumambulating/when engaged in rounds

• लघुषु (laghuṣu): swift/quick-moving

• अध्वर्युपुरुषेषु (adhvaryu-puruṣeṣu): among the Adhvaryu priests (ritual functionaries)

• च (ca): and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing correct sacrificial procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Sāmaga (Sāma-chanters)
• Adhvaryu (Yajurvedic priest)

Tags

• Yajna
• Vedic Chanting
• Ritual Procedure
• Priestly Roles
• Sāmaveda

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on the orderly conduct of a Vedic sacrifice—invocation of deities, proper Sāma chanting, and the Adhvaryu’s active ritual movements.

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

It implies that a householder (and a king as patron of rites) should ensure sacrifices are performed correctly—qualified priests, accurate chanting, and disciplined ritual execution—so the yajña yields its intended religious merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights the importance of susvara (proper intonation) in Sāma recitation and the Adhvaryu’s parikrama (functional movement/circumambulation) around the altar as essential components of correct yajña procedure.