Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

सर्वौषध्युदकैः सिक्तान् पिष्टातकविभूषितान् वृक्षान्माल्यैरलंकृत्य वासोभिरभिवेष्टयेत् //

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhyudakaiḥ siktān piṣṭātakavibhūṣitān vṛkṣānmālyairalaṃkṛtya vāsobhirabhiveṣṭayet //

Translation

وہ تمام شفابخش جڑی بوٹیوں سے آمیختہ پانی سے درختوں کو سیراب کرے؛ پِشٹاتک کے لیپ سے آراستہ کرے؛ ہاروں سے مزین کر کے پھر کپڑوں سے لپیٹ دے۔

Word by Word

• sarva-auṣadhi-udakaiḥ: with water (udaka) containing all medicinal herbs

• siktān: sprinkled/anointed

• piṣṭātaka-vibhūṣitān: ornamented with piṣṭātaka (a paste-like decorative preparation)

• vṛkṣān: the trees

• mālyaiḥ: with garlands

• alaṃkṛtya: having decorated

• vāsobhiḥ: with cloth/garments

• abhiveṣṭayet: should wrap around/encircle (as an auspicious binding).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this instructional passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Auṣadhi (medicinal herbs)
• Vṛkṣa (sacred trees)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Ritual purification
• Tree worship
• Auspicious decoration
• Consecration

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious purification and adornment rites, using herb-infused water and ceremonial decoration to sanctify trees and, by extension, a sacred site.

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

It supports the king’s/householder’s duty to maintain ritual purity and auspiciousness in public and domestic sacred spaces—performing prescribed acts of cleansing (sprinkling), honoring (garlands), and protection/marking sanctity (wrapping with cloth).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it describes a standard consecratory/auspicious procedure used in Vastu-linked contexts: sanctifying trees associated with a site (temple grounds, entrances, precincts) through herb-water sprinkling and formal ornamentation (paste, garlands, cloth).