Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

इति पठति शृणोति वा य इत्थं रविशयनं पुरुहूतवल्लभः स्यात् / अपि नरकगतान्पितॄन् अशेषान् अपि दिवमानयतीह यः करोति //

Transliteration

iti paṭhati śṛṇoti vā ya itthaṃ raviśayanaṃ puruhūtavallabhaḥ syāt / api narakagatānpitṝn aśeṣān api divamānayatīha yaḥ karoti //

Translation

Whoever thus reads (this account) or even listens to it becomes dear to Puruhūta (Indra). And whoever performs this Raviśayana observance here can even lead all his ancestors—though they have fallen into hell—up to heaven.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• paṭhati: reads/recites

• śṛṇoti: hears/listens

• vā: or

• yaḥ: whoever

• ittham: in this manner

• raviśayanam: the ‘Raviśayana’ rite/observance (Sun-related śayana/bed-rite)

• puruhūta-vallabhaḥ: beloved of Puruhūta (Indra)

• syāt: becomes

• api: even

• naraka-gatān: gone to hell

• pitṝn: ancestors/manes

• aśeṣān: without remainder, all

• divam: to heaven

• ānayati: leads/causes to attain

• iha: here (in this world/through this act)

• yaḥ: whoever

• karoti: performs/does.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Puruhūta (Indra)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Naraka (hell)
• Diva (Svarga/heaven)
• Ravi (Sun, implicit in Raviśayana)

Tags

• Ritual Merit
• Pitṛs
• Svarga
• Śravaṇa-Phala
• Vows (Vrata)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it emphasizes the phala (spiritual result) of hearing/reciting and performing the Raviśayana observance—especially its power to elevate ancestors.

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

It aligns with the gṛhastha/royal duty of pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors): through prescribed rites and vows, one supports ancestral welfare and gains divine favor (here, Indra’s goodwill).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The focus is ritual: the ‘Raviśayana’ observance is presented as highly meritorious—so potent that even mere recitation/hearing grants merit, and performance grants ancestral upliftment to heaven.