Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees

Devanagari script

धूपो ऽत्र गुग्गुलः श्रेष्ठस् ताम्रपात्रैरधिष्ठितान् सप्तधान्यस्थितान्कृत्वा वस्त्रगन्धानुलेपनैः //

Transliteration

dhūpo 'tra guggulaḥ śreṣṭhas tāmrapātrairadhiṣṭhitān saptadhānyasthitānkṛtvā vastragandhānulepanaiḥ //

Translation

Dito, ang pinakamainam na insenso ay guggulu. Ito’y ilagay sa mga sisidlang tanso, itindig sa ibabaw ng pitong butil, at samahan ng tela, mga pabango, at pagpapahid ng mabangong langis.

Word by Word

• dhūpaḥ: incense/fumigation offering

• atra: here/in this rite

• guggulaḥ: guggulu (bdellium resin)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: best/supreme

• tāmra-pātraiḥ: with copper vessels

• adhiṣṭhitān: established/placed upon

• sapta-dhānya: the seven grains

• sthitān: situated/placed

• kṛtvā: having made/arranged

• vastra: cloth/garments

• gandha: fragrance/perfume

• anulepanaiḥ: with anointings/unguent applications

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual-technical discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Guggulu
• Sapta-dhanya
• Tamra-patra (copper vessels)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Ritual
• Dhupa
• Upachara
• Temple Worship

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on correct ritual protocol—specifically the preferred incense (guggulu) and its proper placement and accompaniments.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of maintaining orderly worship and sacred hospitality by prescribing standardized, pure materials (guggulu, copper vessels, grains, cloth, perfumes) for offerings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies best-practice upachara: guggulu incense set in copper vessels and arranged on a seven-grain base, with cloth, fragrance, and anointing—details often aligned with temple worship and Vastu-linked purity norms.