Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — The Sun-Vow

Devanagari script

नक्तमादित्यवारेण भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् पत्त्रैर्द्वादशसंयुक्तं रक्तचन्दनपङ्कजम् //

Transliteration

naktamādityavāreṇa bhojayitvā dvijottamān pattrairdvādaśasaṃyuktaṃ raktacandanapaṅkajam //

Translation

On a Sunday evening, having fed the best of the twice-born Brahmanas, one should offer a lotus anointed with red sandal paste, accompanied by twelve leaves.

Word by Word

• नक्तम्: at night / in the evening

• आदित्यवारेण: on Sunday (the day of Āditya/Sūrya)

• भोजयित्वा: having fed / after feeding

• द्विजोत्तमान्: the श्रेष्ठ (best) of the twice-born (Brahmanas)

• पत्त्रैः: with leaves

• द्वादशसंयुक्तम्: joined with twelve / accompanied by twelve

• रक्तचन्दन: red sandal (paste)

• पङ्कजम्: lotus

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) conveying Matsya Purana’s vrata/ritual injunctions

Entities Mentioned

• Āditya (Sūrya)
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Rakṭa-candana (red sandal)
• Paṅkaja (lotus)

Tags

• Vrata
• Surya
• Dana
• Brahmana-bhojana
• Ritual-offering

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dharmic ritual practice—feeding Brahmanas and making a prescribed offering connected with Sunday/Sūrya observance.

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

It frames a householder-style duty: honoring learned Brahmanas through भोजन (feeding) and then making a disciplined, rule-based offering—illustrating dana, hospitality, and orderly worship as part of daily/weekly dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies the offering materials and count symbolism—red sandal paste and a lotus, with “twelve leaves,” likely reflecting a Sūrya-linked number (twelve months/Ādityas) used as a precise ritual requirement.