Matsyapurana 102

English (machine translation) 102

Language: English

102.1

Nandikeśvara said: / Spotlessness and purity of disposition do not exist without bathing; / therefore, bathing is prescribed first for the purification of the mind.

One should bathe with unextracted or extracted waters, / and the wise one who knows the mantras should construct a sacred bathing place with the root mantra. / ‘Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa’ is declared to be the root mantra.

102.3

Holding darbha grass in hand according to rule, having sipped water, restrained and pure, / having visualized a square of four cubits on all sides, / the discerning one should invoke the Gaṅgā with these mantras:

102.4

‘You are born from the foot of Viṣṇu, Vaiṣṇavī, with Viṣṇu as your deity; / protect us, then, from sin from birth to death.

102.5

Vāyu has said there are thirty-five million / sacred bathing places in heaven, on earth, and in the atmosphere; they are all in you, O Jāhnavī.

102.6

Indeed, your name is Nandinī, and among the gods Nalinī; / [you are] Dakṣā, Pṛthvī, Vihagā, Viśvakāyā, Amṛtā, Śivā,

102.7

Vidyādharī, Suprarśāntā, as well as Viśvaprasādinī, / Kṣemā, and Jāhnavī, Śāntā, and Śāntipradāyinī.’

102.8

One should recite these sacred names at the time of bathing; / the Gaṅgā who flows through the three paths will become present there.

102.9

With [water] recited over seven times, bringing his hands together in a cup,
he should pour water over his head repeatedly, three, four, five, or seven times;
he should likewise perform bathing with earth, having addressed it according to the rule:

102.10

“O earth stepped over by horses, stepped over by chariots, stepped over by Viṣṇu, supporter of wealth,
O clay, remove my sin, whatever evil deed has been done by me.

102.11

You were raised up by the Boar, by the dark-hued one with a hundred arms;
O clay, you are given by Brahmā and consecrated by Kaśyapa;
having mounted my limbs, drive away all sin.

102.12

O clay, grant us nourishment; everything is established upon you;
salutations to you, O source-firebrand of all the worlds, O faithful one!”

102.13

Having bathed thus, and having then sipped water according to the rule,
rising up and putting on two white, pure garments,
he should then perform the water libation for the replenishment of the three worlds:

102.14

“The gods, the yakṣas, and the nāgas, the gandharvas, apsarases, and asuras,
cruel serpents and birds of prey, trees, jackals, and birds,

102.15

those supported by wind, those supported by water, and likewise those moving through the sky,
and those living beings who are without support, as well as those devoted to righteousness—

102.16

for their replenishment this water is given by me.”
Having the sacred thread over the left shoulder for the gods, he should then wear it suspended around the neck [for humans]:

102.17

He should offer water libation with devotion to humans, and likewise to the sons of Brahmā, the sages:
“Sanaka, and Sananda, and the third, Sanātana,

102.18

Kapila, and Āsuri, Voḍhu, and Pañcaśikha—
may all of them attain satisfaction always by the water given by me.”

102.19

To Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu,
Pracetas, and Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Nārada—
he should offer water libation to all divine and brāhmaṇa sages with water containing unbroken grains.

102.20

Then, having placed the sacred thread over the right shoulder and bending the left knee to the ground:
“The Agniṣvāttas, the Saumyas, the Haviṣmants, and the Uṣmapās,

102.21

the Sukālins, the Barhiṣads, and again the other Ājyapās—
the ancestors are to be gratified with devotion, with water containing sesame seeds and sandalwood paste:

102.22

To Yama, to the king of righteousness, to Mṛtyu, and to the Ender,
to the son of Vivasvat, to Time, and to the destroyer of all living beings,

102.23

to Audumbara, to Dadhna, to Nīla, to Parameṣṭhin,
to Vṛkodara, to Citra, and to Citragupta, salutation!”
Holding kuśa grass in hand, the wise man should offer water libation to the ancestors according to rule.

102.24

Having offered water libation according to rule with devotion to the paternal ancestors and others, by name and lineage,
and likewise to the maternal grandfathers, he should utter this mantra:

102.25

“Those who are not kinsmen, or who are kinsmen, or who were kinsmen in another birth—
may all of them attain satisfaction, and whoever desires [libation] from me.”

102.26

Then, having sipped water according to the rule, he should draw a lotus before him;
with unbroken grains, with flowers, and with red sandalwood paste mixed with water,
he should carefully offer an oblation of water and recite the names of the Sun:

102.27

“Salutations to you whose form is Viṣṇu, salutations indeed to you whose face is Viṣṇu,
to the thousand-rayed one, always salutations to you who possess all splendor.

102.28

Salutations to you, O Śiva, lord of all! Salutations to you who are fond of all!
O master of the universe, salutations to you, adorned with divine sandalwood paste!

102.29

O one seated on a lotus, salutations to you, adorned with earrings and armlets!
Salutations to you, lord of all the worlds! You awaken the entire world.

102.30

Good deeds and evil deeds—you see everything, O all-pervading one!
O true deity, salutations to you; be pleased with me, O maker of light!

102.31

O maker of day, salutations to you! O maker of radiance, salutations to you!”
Having bowed to the Sun in this manner, and having circumambulated it three times,
touching a brāhmaṇa, a cow, and gold, he should then go to the temple of Viṣṇu.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit