Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

युक्तानौदुम्बरैः पात्रैः पञ्चरत्नसमन्वितान् चतुर्भिर्बह्वृचैर्होमस् तत्र कार्य उदङ्मुखैः //

Transliteration

yuktānaudumbaraiḥ pātraiḥ pañcaratnasamanvitān caturbhirbahvṛcairhomas tatra kārya udaṅmukhaiḥ //

Translation

അവിടെ വടക്കോട്ടു മുഖം തിരിച്ച്, പഞ്ചരത്നസമന്വിതമായി ശരിയായി ഒരുക്കിയ ഔദുംബരപാത്രങ്ങൾ ഉപയോഗിച്ച്, നാല് ബഹ്വൃച (ഋഗ്വേദ) ഋത്വിക്കുകൾകൊണ്ട് ഹോമം നടത്തണം।

Word by Word

• yukta: properly arranged/fit

• anaudumbaraiḥ: with udumbara (Ficus racemosa) wooden

• pātraiḥ: vessels/containers

• pañcaratna-samanvitān: endowed with the five gems (pañca-ratna)

• caturbhiḥ: with four

• bahvṛcaiḥ: Bahvṛca Ṛgvedic priests/reciters

• homaḥ: fire-offering

• tatra: there/in that rite

• kāryaḥ: should be done/performed

• udaṅmukhaiḥ: with faces turned north (facing north).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructor) to Vaivasvata Manu (listener)

Entities Mentioned

• Udumbara (Ficus racemosa)
• Pañcaratna (five gems)
• Bahvṛca (Ṛgvedic tradition)
• Homa

Tags

• Homa
• Vedic ritual
• Pañcaratna
• Udumbara
• Ritual directions

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it preserves ritual order during ordinary sacred rites, emphasizing correct materials, officiants, and direction—features Purāṇas uphold as part of cosmic harmony (ṛta).

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

It frames dharmic duty as precise ritual performance: a householder (or a king sponsoring rites) should arrange proper vessels, qualified Ṛgvedic priests, and correct orientation, thereby sustaining merit (puṇya) and social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it mandates north-facing homa (udaṅmukha), use of udumbara-wood vessels, and pañcaratna inclusion—details that guide altar/ritual layout and the selection of sanctioned materials in Purāṇic practice.