Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Rohiṇī–Candraśayana Vow

Devanagari script

देवीं च संपूज्य सुगन्धपुष्पैर् नैवेद्यधूपादिभिरिन्दुपत्नीम् सुप्त्वाथ भूमौ पुनरुत्थितेन स्नात्वा च विप्राय हविष्ययुक्तः //

Transliteration

devīṃ ca saṃpūjya sugandhapuṣpair naivedyadhūpādibhirindupatnīm suptvātha bhūmau punarutthitena snātvā ca viprāya haviṣyayuktaḥ //

Translation

Having duly worshipped the Goddess—Indu’s consort—with fragrant flowers, food-offerings (naivedya), incense, and the like, one should then sleep upon the ground. Rising again thereafter and bathing, one should honour a Brāhmaṇa while observing the haviṣya regimen of pure sacrificial food.

Word by Word

• devīm: the Goddess

• saṃpūjya: having fully worshipped

• sugandha-puṣpaiḥ: with fragrant flowers

• naivedya: food offering

• dhūpa-ādibhiḥ: with incense and other ritual items

• indu-patnīm: the wife/consort of the Moon (Indu)

• suptvā: having slept

• atha: then

• bhūmau: on the ground

• punaḥ: again

• utthitena: having risen

• snātvā: having bathed

• ca: and

• viprāya: to/for a Brāhmaṇa

• haviṣya-yuktaḥ: endowed with/observing haviṣya (a pure, restricted sacrificial diet/food suitable for rites).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the broader Matsya–Manu dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Devī
• Indu (Chandra)
• Indupatnī
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

Tags

• Vrata
• Puja
• Haviṣya
• Dharma
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it prescribes a vrata-style ritual sequence—worship, austerity (sleeping on the ground), purification by bathing, and concluding with honoring a Brāhmaṇa while keeping the haviṣya regimen.

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

It reflects household/royal dharma expressed through regulated worship and self-restraint: offering proper upacāras (flowers, naivedya, incense), adopting a mild austerity (ground-sleep), maintaining purity (bath), and supporting Brahmins—typical markers of righteous observance in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it outlines standard pūjā upacāras (gandha-puṣpa, naivedya, dhūpa), followed by vrata disciplines (bhūmi-śayana, snāna) and the haviṣya rule—useful as a procedural template for Matsya Purana ritual practice (not Vāstu/architecture-specific).