Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

नैयग्रोधं दन्तकाष्ठम् अथवा खादिरं बुधः गृहीत्वा धावयेद्दन्तान् आचान्तः प्रागुदङ्मुखः //

Transliteration

naiyagrodhaṃ dantakāṣṭham athavā khādiraṃ budhaḥ gṛhītvā dhāvayeddantān ācāntaḥ prāgudaṅmukhaḥ //

Translation

ആചമനം ചെയ്ത ശേഷം, ജ്ഞാനി ന്യഗ്രോധ (ആൽ) അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഖദിര (ഖയർ) ദന്തകാഷ്ഠം എടുത്ത്, കിഴക്ക് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വടക്ക് മുഖമായി നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് പല്ലുകൾ ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• नैयग्रोधम् (naiyagrodham): of the nyagrodha/banyan tree

• दन्तकाष्ठम् (dantakāṣṭham): tooth-cleaning stick, toothbrush twig

• अथवा (athavā): or

• खादिरम् (khādiram): made of khadira (Acacia catechu)

• बुधः (budhaḥ): the wise person

• गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā): having taken

• धावयेत् (dhāvayet): should cleanse/brush

• दन्तान् (dantān): the teeth

• आचान्तः (ācāntaḥ): having performed ācamana (ritual sipping/rinsing of water)

• प्राग्-उदङ्मुखः (prāg-udaṅmukhaḥ): facing east or facing north.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Nyagrodha (banyan)
• Khadira (Acacia catechu)
• Ācamana

Tags

• Dharma
• Ācāra
• Āhnika
• Purification
• Householder Duties

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on āhnika (daily purification) practices that sustain dharma in ordinary life.

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

It prescribes a basic discipline of cleanliness and ritual purity—ācamana followed by dental cleansing—reflecting the expected self-governance and sāttvic conduct of householders (and by extension rulers) in the Matsya Purana’s dharma framework.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies correct materials (nyagrodha/khadira twigs) and proper orientation (facing east or north) for dantadhāvana after ācamana—details typical of Purāṇic procedural rules rather than Vāstu or temple architecture.