Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Rohiṇī–Candraśayana Vow

Devanagari script

कदम्बनीलोत्पलकेतकानि जाती सरोजं शतपत्त्रिका च अम्लानकुब्जान्यथ सिन्दुवारं पुष्पं पुनर्नारद मल्लिकायाः शुभ्रं च विष्णोः करवीरपुष्पं श्रीचम्पकं चन्द्रमसः प्रदेयम् //

Transliteration

kadambanīlotpalaketakāni jātī sarojaṃ śatapattrikā ca amlānakubjānyatha sinduvāraṃ puṣpaṃ punarnārada mallikāyāḥ śubhraṃ ca viṣṇoḥ karavīrapuṣpaṃ śrīcampakaṃ candramasaḥ pradeyam //

Translation

Kadamba, blue lotus, and ketakī; jāti-jasmine, lotus, and the hundred-petalled lotus; as well as amlāna, kubja, and sinduvāra—again, O Nārada, the white flowers of mallikā (jasmine) are to be offered to Viṣṇu; and the karavīra flower, and the auspicious campaka, are to be offered to the Moon (Candramas).

Word by Word

• kadamba: kadamba blossom

• nīlotpala: blue lotus

• ketakāni (ketakī): pandanus/ketakī flowers

• jātī: jāti-jasmine

• sarojaṃ: lotus

• śatapattrikā: hundred-petalled lotus

• amlāna: an unfading/fresh flower (name of a flower used in worship)

• kubjāni: kubjā flowers (a named variety used ritually)

• sinduvāraṃ: sinduvāra (five-leaved chaste tree) flower

• puṣpam: flower/flower-offering

• punaḥ: again/further

• nārada: O Nārada

• mallikāyāḥ: of mallikā (jasmine)

• śubhram: white/pure

• viṣṇoḥ: for Viṣṇu

• karavīra-puṣpam: karavīra (oleander) flower

• śrī-campakam: auspicious campaka flower

• candramasaḥ: for Candramas (the Moon)

• pradeyam: should be given/offered.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating) conveying a prescription addressed to Nārada within the ritual-teaching context

Entities Mentioned

• Nārada
• Viṣṇu
• Candramas (Moon)

Tags

• Puja
• Flower offerings
• Vishnu worship
• Chandra worship
• Ritual materials

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a ritual prescription listing specific flowers suitable for offerings to Viṣṇu and to Candramas (the Moon).

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

It supports the householder’s (and ruler’s) dharma of maintaining regular worship with proper, text-approved offerings—showing that devotion is expressed through disciplined, appropriate ritual materials.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it assigns particular flowers to particular deities (Viṣṇu and Candramas), reflecting the Matsya Purana’s detailed puja-vidhi where correct substances (dravyas) are integral to effective worship.