Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

सुवर्णशृङ्गाभरणौ राजतैः खुरसंयुतौ नानाफलसमायुक्तौ घ्राणगन्धकरण्डकौ इत्येवं रचयित्वा तौ धूपदीपैरथार्चयेत् //

Transliteration

suvarṇaśṛṅgābharaṇau rājataiḥ khurasaṃyutau nānāphalasamāyuktau ghrāṇagandhakaraṇḍakau ityevaṃ racayitvā tau dhūpadīpairathārcayet //

Translation

Adorning the pair with golden horn-ornaments, fitting them with silver hoof-covers, and providing baskets filled with various fruits and fragrant aromatics—having arranged them thus, one should then worship with incense and lamps.

Word by Word

• suvarṇa: gold

• śṛṅga: horn

• ābharaṇa: ornament/adornment

• -au: dual (two)

• rājataiḥ: with silver (instrumental plural)

• khura: hoof

• saṁyutau: fitted/connected/provided (dual)

• nānā: various

• phala: fruits

• samāyuktau: furnished/filled with (dual)

• ghrāṇa: smell/olfaction (i.e., scent)

• gandha: fragrance/aromatic substance

• karaṇḍaka: basket/casket/container

• ityevam: thus/in this manner

• racayitvā: having arranged/prepared

• tau: those two/the pair

• dhūpa: incense

• dīpa: lamp

• -aiḥ: with (instrumental plural)

• atha: then

• arcayet: should worship/honor (with offerings).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s prescriptive ritual discourse)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual Worship
• Iconography
• Upachara
• Temple Offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a procedural instruction for arranging items and performing worship using incense and lamps.

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

It reflects the grihastha/royal duty of maintaining proper ritual decorum—preparing offerings (fruits, fragrances) and performing arcana with standard upacharas like dhūpa and dīpa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes correct preparation and embellishment of worship-associated items and the essential upacharas (incense and lamp), aligning with Matsya Purana-style prescriptive worship and temple/ritual protocol.