Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

दर्भासनं तु दत्त्वादौ त्रीणि पात्राणि पूरयेत् खपवित्राणि कृत्वादौ शं नो देवीत्य् अपः क्षिपेत् //

Transliteration

darbhāsanaṃ tu dattvādau trīṇi pātrāṇi pūrayet khapavitrāṇi kṛtvādau śaṃ no devīty apaḥ kṣipet //

Translation

आदौ दर्भासनं दत्त्वा त्रीणि पात्राणि पूरयेत्। खपवित्राणि कृत्वादौ “शं नो देवीरिति” जलेन तेषु क्षिपेत्॥

Word by Word

• दर्भासनम् (darbhāsanam): a seat made of darbha grass

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having placed/given

• आदौ (ādau): at the beginning/first

• त्रीणि (trīṇi): three

• पात्राणि (pātrāṇi): vessels/containers

• पूरयेत् (pūrayet): should fill

• खपवित्राणि (khapavitrāṇi): ritually purified/with ‘kha-pavitra’ purification (purificatory act for vessels)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/made

• शं नो देवीति (śaṃ no devīti): “May the goddesses bring us welfare…” (opening of a Vedic mantra used for sanctification)

• अपः (apaḥ): water

• क्षिपेत् (kṣipet): should sprinkle/cast (into/over).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• Āpaḥ (sanctifying waters)
• Vedic mantra: “Śaṃ no devīḥ”

Tags

• Ritual
• Purification
• Mantra
• Pātra-śuddhi
• Darbha

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on preparatory ritual purity—setting a darbha seat, preparing vessels, and sanctifying water with a Vedic mantra.

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

It reflects the nitya-karma mindset central to Matsya Purana dharma: even householders (and kings as exemplars) should begin worship with orderly preparation, cleanliness, and mantra-based sanctification.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes pātra-śuddhi (purifying vessels) and mantra-sprinkling of water; the darbha seat indicates a standard Vedic-paurāṇic setup for rites before any formal worship or offering.