Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

सुवर्णपुष्पैश्च तथा भूमिपुष्पैस्तथापरैः जम्बीरकैर्भूस्तृणकैः सरसैः सशुकैस्तथा //

Transliteration

suvarṇapuṣpaiśca tathā bhūmipuṣpaistathāparaiḥ jambīrakairbhūstṛṇakaiḥ sarasaiḥ saśukaistathā //

Translation

Demikian juga, (upacara itu) hendaklah dilakukan dengan bunga-bunga keemasan, dengan bunga yang lahir dari bumi dan pelbagai jenis yang lain; dengan buah jambīraka (citron), dengan rumput suci dan herba tanah; serta dengan sayur-sayuran hijau yang segar berair bersama pucuk-pucuk muda.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णपुष्पैः: with golden flowers (gold-crafted flowers or flowers of golden hue)

• च: and

• तथा: likewise

• भूमिपुष्पैः: with earth-born flowers (flowers growing from the ground)

• तथा-अपरैः: and with other (kinds) as well

• जम्बीरकैः: with jambīraka (citron/lemon-like fruits)

• भूस्तृणकैः: with ground-grasses/herbs

• सरसैः: with juicy/fresh (green offerings)

• सशुकैः: together with shoots/sprouts

• तथा: also/likewise

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual offerings
• Temple worship
• Pratima installation
• Puranic rites

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a practical ritual catalogue describing acceptable offering materials (flowers, fruits, grasses, shoots) used in worship or consecration contexts.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of maintaining dharmic worship by specifying pure, auspicious substances—flowers, citrus, fresh greens, and sacred grasses—fit for offerings in temple or household rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it lists dravyas (offerables) used in pratistha/puja: symbolic ‘golden flowers’ (wealth and auspiciousness), natural flowers, citrus fruits, sacred grasses, and fresh shoots—items commonly prescribed in temple consecration and ongoing worship.