Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

इत्यादि चास्त्राणि च पूज्य नित्यं विश्वेश्वरायेति शिवो ऽभिपूज्यः भोक्तव्यमत्रैवमतैलशाकम् अमांसमक्षारमभुक्तशेषम् //

Transliteration

ityādi cāstrāṇi ca pūjya nityaṃ viśveśvarāyeti śivo 'bhipūjyaḥ bhoktavyamatraivamatailaśākam amāṃsamakṣāramabhuktaśeṣam //

Translation

Thus, these rites and sacred ordinances (astra) are to be honored daily; and Śiva is to be duly worshipped with the invocation, “Salutations to Viśveśvara.” One should then eat only what is appropriate here: greens cooked without oil, without meat, without alkaline (impurifying) additives, and not food left over from another’s eating.

Word by Word

• ityādi: thus/and so forth

• ca: and

• astrāṇi/śāstrāṇi (contextual): sacred ordinances/scriptural rules

• pūjya: to be worshipped/honored

• nityam: daily

• viśveśvarāya iti: with the formula “to Viśveśvara”

• śivaḥ: Śiva

• abhipūjyaḥ: to be especially/reverently worshipped

• bhoktavyam: should be eaten/one should partake

• atra eva: here/thereupon (in this observance)

• mataila-śākam: vegetables/greens without oil

• amāṃsam: without meat

• akṣāram: without kṣāra (alkaline, caustic, or ritually suspect additives)

• abhukta-śeṣam: not the remainder of someone’s eating (not leftover food).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s didactic dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Vishveshvara

Tags

• Dharma
• Puja
• Shiva
• Ahara
• RitualPurity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it focuses on daily worship (pūjā) and purity disciplines, indicating that right conduct and ritual order are upheld regardless of cosmic cycles.

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

It prescribes a householder-style discipline: daily honoring of scripture and worship of Śiva as Viśveśvara, followed by sāttvika eating—oil-free greens, no meat, no kṣāra additives, and no leftovers—emphasizing self-restraint and ritual cleanliness expected of rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the prescribed Śaiva invocation (“to Viśveśvara”) and the purity code for offerings/consumption after worship, highlighting standard pūjā-vidhi concerns (mantra, reverence, and uncontaminated food).