Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Rohiṇī–Candraśayana Vow

Devanagari script

मुक्ताफलाष्टकयुतं सितनेत्रपटावृतम् क्षीरकुम्भोपरि पुनः कांस्यपात्राक्षतान्वितम् दद्यान्मन्त्रेण पूर्वाह्णे शालीक्षुफलसंयुतम् //

Transliteration

muktāphalāṣṭakayutaṃ sitanetrapaṭāvṛtam kṣīrakumbhopari punaḥ kāṃsyapātrākṣatānvitam dadyānmantreṇa pūrvāhṇe śālīkṣuphalasaṃyutam //

Translation

One should arrange an offering furnished with eight pearls, covered with a white cloth, and place it upon a pot filled with milk; and further, add a bronze vessel containing akṣata (unbroken rice-grains). In the forenoon, it should be presented with the prescribed mantra, accompanied by rice, sugarcane, and fruits.

Word by Word

• muktāphala: pearl

• aṣṭaka-yutam: endowed with eight (in number)

• sita: white

• netra-paṭa-āvṛtam: covered with a cloth (paṭa) (lit. ‘white-cloth covering’)

• kṣīra-kumbha: milk-pot

• upari: upon/over

• punaḥ: again/further

• kāṃsya-pātra: bronze vessel

• akṣata: unbroken rice grains

• anvitam: accompanied by/with

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• mantreṇa: with (the) mantra

• pūrvāhṇe: in the forenoon

• śāli: rice

• ikṣu: sugarcane

• phala: fruits

• saṃyutam: joined with/accompanied by

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual injunction style)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṣīrakumbha (milk pot)
• Akṣata (unbroken rice grains)
• Muktāphala (pearls)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Pūjā-vidhi
• Ritual offering
• Matsya Purana ritual rules

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it gives a practical ritual injunction about arranging and presenting offerings (dāna/pūjā) with specific auspicious materials.

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

It reflects the householder’s dharma of making timely, mantra-accompanied offerings using pure and auspicious substances (milk, akṣata, fruits). A king, as upholder of dharma, is likewise expected to support and perform such rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies an offering setup—eight pearls, white cloth covering, a milk pot, and a bronze vessel with akṣata—plus the correct timing (forenoon) and accompaniment (rice, sugarcane, fruits), indicating a codified pūjā/dāna procedure rather than Vāstu rules.