Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

रात्रिसूक्तं च रौद्रं च पावमानं सुमङ्गलम् जपेयुः पौरुषं सूक्तं पूर्वतो बह्वृचः पृथक् //

Transliteration

rātrisūktaṃ ca raudraṃ ca pāvamānaṃ sumaṅgalam japeyuḥ pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ pūrvato bahvṛcaḥ pṛthak //

Translation

ते रात्रिसूक्त, रौद्र, पावमान आणि सुमंगल (सूक्त) यांचा जप करावा. आणि बह्वृच (ऋग्वेदी) पुरोहितांनी प्रथम स्वतंत्रपणे पौरुषसूक्ताचे पठण करावे.

Word by Word

• रात्रिसूक्तम् (rātri-sūktam): the Night Hymn (Rātri Sūkta)

• च (ca): and

• रौद्रम् (raudram): the Raudra hymn (to Rudra)

• च (ca): and

• पावमानम् (pāvamānam): the Pāvamāna hymn (purifying chant, often Soma-related)

• सुमङ्गलम् (sumaṅgalam): the auspicious/benedictory hymn

• जपेयुः (japeyuḥ): they should recite/repeat (as japa)

• पौरुषम् (pauruṣam): pertaining to Puruṣa (Cosmic Person)

• सूक्तम् (sūktam): hymn

• पूर्वतः (pūrvataḥ): first, at the beginning

• बह्वृचः (bahvṛcaḥ): the Bahvṛc priests (Ṛgveda reciters)

• पृथक् (pṛthak): separately, distinctively

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual-vidhi context)

Entities Mentioned

• Rātri Sūkta
• Raudra (Rudra hymn)
• Pāvamāna
• Sumaṅgala hymn
• Pauruṣa Sūkta
• Bahvṛc (Ṛgvedic priest)

Tags

• Mantra
• Japa
• Ritual
• Vedic Hymns
• Auspiciousness
• Purification

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes safeguarding and purification through Vedic hymns rather than narrating Pralaya; the Pauruṣa-sūkta, however, evokes the cosmic Puruṣa doctrine often used to frame creation and cosmic order.

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

It prescribes a disciplined regimen of sanctioned Vedic recitations—protective (Raudra), purificatory (Pāvamāna), and auspicious (Sumaṅgala)—supporting the king’s and householder’s duty to maintain personal and social order through orthodox rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it gives an order and selection of hymns for japa, highlighting that Bahvṛc priests should begin with the Pauruṣa-sūkta; it is a procedural cue for organizing a formal recitation within a larger rite.