Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — The Rite of Donating the ‘Mountain of Ghee’

Devanagari script

अधिवासनपूर्वं च तद्वद्धोमसुरार्चनम् प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां गुरवे तं निवेदयेत् विष्कम्भपर्वतांस्तद्वद् ऋत्विग्भ्यः शान्तमानसः //

Transliteration

adhivāsanapūrvaṃ ca tadvaddhomasurārcanam prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ gurave taṃ nivedayet viṣkambhaparvatāṃstadvad ṛtvigbhyaḥ śāntamānasaḥ //

Translation

After first performing the rite of adhivāsana, one should likewise carry out the fire-offering (homa) and the worship of the deities. Then, at daybreak after the night, with a composed mind, he should present it to the preceptor (guru); and in the same manner he should offer the viṣkambha and parvata portions to the officiating priests (ṛtvij).

Word by Word

• अधिवासनपूर्वम् (adhivāsana-pūrvam): after the preliminary adhivāsana rite

• च (ca): and

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise/in the same manner

• होम (homa): fire-offering/oblations into the sacred fire

• सुरार्चनम् (surārcanam): worship of the gods (deva-pūjā)

• प्रभातायाम् (prabhātāyām): at dawn/daybreak

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• शर्वर्याम् (śarvaryām): in the night (i.e., after the night has passed)

• गुरवे (gurave): to the guru/preceptor

• तम् (tam): that (offering/portion)

• निवेदयेत् (nivedayet): should present/offer

• विष्कम्भ (viṣkambha): a supporting/binding element

• पर्वतान् (parvatān): ‘mountain’ portions/raised heaps (ritual portions termed “parvata”)

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise

• ऋत्विग्भ्यः (ṛtvigbhyaḥ): to the officiating priests

• शान्तमानसः (śānta-mānasaḥ): with tranquil mind.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Ṛtviks (officiating priests)
• Devas (suras)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratishtha
• Homa
• Ritual Procedure
• Temple Consecration

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on orderly consecration preliminaries—adhivāsana, homa, and proper offerings—highlighting ritual discipline rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It models dharmic responsibility in patronage and worship: the patron must complete preliminaries, honor the guru, and properly remunerate/offer portions to the ṛtviks—an ethical template for rulers and householders sponsoring rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it lays a sequence used in temple/pratiṣṭhā contexts: adhivāsana first, then homa and deva-arcana, followed by prescribed distributions (including items termed viṣkambha and parvata) to the guru and priests.