Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना प्रियं च शिवयोर्नित्यं तस्माच्छान्तिं प्रयच्छ मे //

Transliteration

yasmādannarasāḥ sarve notkaṭā lavaṇaṃ vinā priyaṃ ca śivayornityaṃ tasmācchāntiṃ prayaccha me //

Translation

Since all the flavors of food are not fully relishable without salt—and since it is ever dear to Śiva and his consort—therefore, grant me peace (śānti).

Word by Word

• yasmāt: since/because

• anna-rasāḥ: the tastes/flavors of food

• sarve: all

• na: not

• utkaṭāḥ: intense/fully pronounced

• lavaṇam: salt

• vinā: without

• priyam: dear/pleasing

• ca: and

• śivayoḥ: of Śiva and (his) consort (Śivā/Pārvatī)

• nityam: always

• tasmāt: therefore

• śāntim: peace, appeasement, pacification

• prayaccha: bestow/grant

• me: to me

Speaker

• A devotee/narrated supplicant voice within the discourse (prayer-verse addressed to a deity for śānti)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Shiva (Shivā/Pārvatī implied)

Tags

• Shanti
• Ritual
• Devotional Prayer
• Shaiva
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it functions as a śānti-prayer, using a familiar analogy (salt completing taste) to request pacification and well-being.

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

It reflects the Purāṇic emphasis on śānti (pacificatory rites and prayer) as part of daily and occasional dharma—householders and rulers seek social and personal harmony through auspicious observances and reverent petitions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights śānti-prayoga (peace-invocation) and symbolic completeness: as salt ‘finishes’ food’s flavor, so śānti ‘completes’ a rite by removing obstacles and ensuring auspicious results.