Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

घृतेन स्नपनं कुर्याच् छम्भोर् वा केशवस्य च अक्षताभिः सुपुष्पाभिः कृत्वा गोमयमण्डलम् //

Transliteration

ghṛtena snapanaṃ kuryāc chambhor vā keśavasya ca akṣatābhiḥ supuṣpābhiḥ kṛtvā gomayamaṇḍalam //

Translation

One should perform the ritual bathing with ghee for either Śambhu (Śiva) or Keśava (Viṣṇu), and, using unbroken rice-grains and fine flowers, prepare a consecrated circle (maṇḍala) made with cow-dung.

Word by Word

• घृतेन (ghṛtena): with ghee

• स्नपनं (snapanaṃ): ritual bathing/ablution

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): one should do/perform

• शम्भोः (chambhoḥ/śambhoḥ): of Śambhu (Śiva)

• वा (vā): or

• केशवस्य (keśavasya): of Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• च (ca): and

• अक्षताभिः (akṣatābhiḥ): with akṣata, unbroken rice grains

• सुपुष्पाभिः (supuṣpābhiḥ): with good/auspicious flowers

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having made

• गोमयमण्डलम् (gomaya-maṇḍalam): a cow-dung maṇḍala, ritual circle/diagram

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s teaching frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Śambhu (Shiva)
• Keśava (Vishnu)
• Ghee (ghṛta)
• Akṣata (unbroken rice)
• Cow-dung maṇḍala (gomaya-maṇḍala)

Tags

• Puja-vidhi
• Abhisheka
• Maṇḍala
• Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava harmony
• Ritual purity

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a practical worship rite (snāpana/abhisheka and maṇḍala-making) used to maintain ritual order and sacredness in daily or temple practice.

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

It supports the gṛhastha/kingly duty of maintaining dharma through proper pūjā: performing sanctioned ablutions and preparing a pure, consecrated worship-space with traditional materials (gomaya, akṣata, flowers).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual-technical point is the gomaya-maṇḍala: a purified, bounded sacred surface for worship, marked and sanctified with akṣata and flowers—relevant to temple/altar procedure and ritual space-setting.