Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

उत्कृष्टान्मन्त्रजापेन तिष्ठध्वमिति जापकान् एवमादिश्य तान्सर्वान् पर्युक्ष्याग्निं स मन्त्रवित् //

Transliteration

utkṛṣṭānmantrajāpena tiṣṭhadhvamiti jāpakān evamādiśya tānsarvān paryukṣyāgniṃ sa mantravit //

Translation

जापकांना—“मंत्रजपाने उत्कृष्ट होऊन दृढ उभे रहा”—असा आदेश देऊन, तो मंत्रवित् सर्वांना तसे निर्देश करून अग्नीचे पर्यूक्षण (पवित्रीकरणार्थ शिंपडणे) करीत असे।

Word by Word

• utkṛṣṭān: uplifted/exalted

• mantra-jāpena: by mantra-recitation (japa)

• tiṣṭhadhvam: stand/remain (steadfast)

• iti: thus

• jāpakān: the chanters/reciters

• evam: in this way

• ādiśya: having instructed/commanded

• tān sarvān: all of them

• paryukṣya: having sprinkled/asperged (ritually)

• agnim: the fire/sacred fire

• saḥ: he

• mantravit: knower of mantras/ritual expert

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• jāpakāḥ (mantra-chanters)
• agni (sacred fire)
• mantravit (ritual expert)

Tags

• Ritual
• Mantra Japa
• Agni
• Purification
• Vedic Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on correct ritual conduct—strengthening participants through japa and ritually sanctifying the fire, which is a standard dharmic procedure rather than a cosmological teaching.

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

It reflects the householder’s (and by extension a king’s) duty to uphold dharma through properly supervised rites: ensuring disciplined mantra-recitation and maintaining purity of the sacred fire under a qualified ritual expert (mantravit).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights paryukṣa—sprinkling/asperging the fire for sanctification and protection—showing the procedural emphasis on purity and correct sequencing in ceremonies that often accompany temple worship and consecratory acts.