Matsya Purana — Śrāddha Procedure: Types, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अग्नीषोमयमाभ्यां तु कुर्यादाप्यायनं बुधः दक्षिणाग्नौ प्रतीते वा य एकाग्निर्द्विजोत्तमः //

Transliteration

agnīṣomayamābhyāṃ tu kuryādāpyāyanaṃ budhaḥ dakṣiṇāgnau pratīte vā ya ekāgnirdvijottamaḥ //

Translation

Orang bijaksana hendaknya melaksanakan ritus ‘āpyāyana’ dengan pemanggilan suci kepada Agni, Soma, dan Yama. Atau bila api selatan (dakṣiṇāgni) padam, maka dwija utama yang memelihara satu api suci melakukannya menurut tata cara.

Word by Word

• अग्नीषोमयमाभ्याम् (agnī–soma–yamābhyām): with (the deities) Agni, Soma, and Yama

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should perform

• आप्यायनम् (āpyāyanam): replenishing/strengthening rite (restoration/augmentation, esp. of sacred fire/ritual efficacy)

• बुधः (budhaḥ): the wise man

• दक्षिणाग्नौ (dakṣiṇāgnau): in/with regard to the southern fire

• प्रतीते (pratīte): when extinguished/when it has gone out

• वा (vā): or

• यः (yaḥ): who

• एकाग्निः (ekāgniḥ): one who maintains a single sacred fire

• द्विजोत्तमः (dvijottamaḥ): best among the twice-born (Brahmin/initiated).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a dharma/ritual teaching frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Soma
• Yama
• Dakṣiṇāgni
• Dvija (twice-born)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vedic Ritual
• Agnihotra
• Grihya
• Expiation

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of ritual maintenance—specifically how to restore or strengthen sacred-fire practice through āpyāyana.

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

It aligns with householder (gṛhastha) duties: maintaining the sacred fires and performing corrective rites if a ritual fire—especially the dakṣiṇāgni—has been extinguished, preserving continuity of daily obligations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes āpyāyana using invocations to Agni, Soma, and Yama, and notes the procedure relevant when the dakṣiṇāgni goes out—important for correct fire-altar/fire-house practice rather than temple architecture.