Matsya Purana — Dynastic Genealogies: Paurava–Anu Lines, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

यज्ञार्थमाहृतान्दर्भांश् चचार सुरभीसुतः जग्राह तं दीर्घतमाः शृङ्गयोस्तु चतुष्पदम् //

Transliteration

yajñārthamāhṛtāndarbhāṃś cacāra surabhīsutaḥ jagrāha taṃ dīrghatamāḥ śṛṅgayostu catuṣpadam //

Translation

യജ്ഞത്തിനായി കൊണ്ടുവന്ന ദർഭങ്ങളെ വഹിച്ച് സുരഭീപുത്രൻ ഇങ്ങോട്ടും അങ്ങോട്ടും സഞ്ചരിച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ ദീർഘതമാ ആ ചതുഷ്പദിയെ കൊമ്പുകളിൽ പിടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• yajñārtham: for the purpose of sacrifice

• āhṛtān: brought/collected

• darbhān: darbha grass (kuśa, ritual grass)

• cacāra: roamed/went about

• surabhī-sutaḥ: the son of Surabhī (a bovine being—bull/cow’s offspring)

• jagrāha: seized/grasped

• tam: him/that

• dīrghatamāḥ: Dīrghatamas (name of a sage)

• śṛṅgayoḥ: by the two horns

• tu: indeed/then

• catuṣpadam: the four-footed (animal)

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing events (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Dīrghatamas
• Surabhī
• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• Yajña (sacrifice)

Tags

• Yajña
• Ritual materials
• Darbha grass
• Sage narrative
• Puranic episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on a concrete ritual scene—darbha grass collected for yajña and the sage Dīrghatamas restraining a four-footed animal.

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

It highlights yajña-preparation discipline: a householder’s ritual life requires proper sacred implements (like darbha) and controlled handling of sacrificial animals, reflecting orderly performance of prescribed rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, darbha (kuśa) is a key yajña implement used for seats, sanctification, and ritual boundaries; the verse situates it as formally collected “for sacrifice,” underscoring correct materials and procedure.