Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Rite and Glory of Meru-Dāna: The Tenfold ‘Gift of Meru’ and Mountain-Offe...

Devanagari script

तुरीयभागेण चतुर्दिशं च संस्थापयेत्पुष्पविलेपनाढ्यान् पूर्वेण मन्दरमनेकफलावलीभिर् युक्तं यवैः कनकभद्रकदम्बचिह्नैः //

Transliteration

turīyabhāgeṇa caturdiśaṃ ca saṃsthāpayetpuṣpavilepanāḍhyān pūrveṇa mandaramanekaphalāvalībhir yuktaṃ yavaiḥ kanakabhadrakadambacihnaiḥ //

Translation

Dividing the ground into four parts, one should arrange in the four directions the auspicious offerings, richly provided with flowers and unguents. On the eastern side one should set the ‘Mandara’ arrangement, adorned with clusters of many fruits, together with barley grains (yava), and marked with the auspicious emblems of kanaka, bhadraka, and kadamba.

Word by Word

• तुरीयभागेण: by a fourth-part division / into four quarters

• चतुर्दिशम्: in the four directions

• च: and

• संस्थापयेत्: one should place/establish/arrange

• पुष्प: flowers

• विलेपन: unguents/pastes/anointing substances

• आढ्यान्: abundant, richly supplied

• पूर्वेण: on the eastern side

• मन्दरम्: ‘Mandara’ (a named auspicious arrangement/cluster, lit. Mandara)

• अनेक: many

• फल: fruits

• आवलीभिः: with rows/clusters/garlands

• युक्तम्: joined with, accompanied by

• यवैः: with barley grains

• कनक: gold/golden (auspicious token/name)

• भद्रक: auspicious mark/name ‘Bhadraka’

• कदम्ब: kadamba (tree/cluster

• चिह्नैः: with signs/marks/emblems

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on ritual/architectural procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Mandara (auspicious arrangement)
• Yava (barley)
• Kadamba (emblem/marker)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual Layout
• Mandala Division
• Temple Offerings
• Auspicious Symbols

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on Vastu/ritual procedure—dividing a space and placing auspicious materials direction-wise.

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

It frames a prescriptive duty: a patron (king/householder) should correctly arrange directional offerings and auspicious markers when establishing a sacred or ritually prepared space, reflecting dharmic responsibility in consecrations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies a mandala-based division into quarters and the eastern placement of a named auspicious setup (‘Mandara’) with fruits, barley, and auspicious signs—typical of Matsya Purana-style Vastu and consecration protocols.