Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

अष्टाभिः शर्कराभारैर् उत्तमः स्यान्महाचलः चतुर्भिर्मध्यमः प्रोक्तो भाराभ्यामधमः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

aṣṭābhiḥ śarkarābhārair uttamaḥ syānmahācalaḥ caturbhirmadhyamaḥ prokto bhārābhyāmadhamaḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

يُعَدُّ «المهاچلا» (Mahācala) من أرفع الدرجات إذا بلغ وزنه ثمانية «بهارا» (bhāra) من «شركرا» (śarkarā)؛ ويُعلَن متوسطًا إذا كان أربعة، ويُذكَر أدنى إذا كان اثنين بهارا.

Word by Word

• अष्टाभिः (aṣṭābhiḥ): by eight

• शर्कराभारैः (śarkarā-bhāraiḥ): by bhāra-measures of śarkarā (gravel/pebbles used as a standard weight)

• उत्तमः (uttamaḥ): excellent, highest

• स्यात् (syāt): would be/is considered

• महाचलः (mahācalaḥ): Mahācala (a large standard/stone/measure used in building/installation contexts)

• चतुर्भिः (caturbhiḥ): by four

• मध्यमः (madhyamaḥ): middling

• प्रोक्तः (proktaḥ): declared, stated

• भाराभ्याम् (bhārābhyām): by two bhāras

• अधमः (adhamaḥ): inferior

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): remembered/traditionally held.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Mahācala
• Bhāra
• Śarkarā

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Measurements
• Temple Architecture
• Pratima Standards
• Ritual Materials

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it sets technical standards for grading a Mahācala by weight, reflecting the Purana’s practical Vastuvidya focus rather than cosmology.

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

It supports dharmic responsibility in public works and sacred construction: a king or patron should fund and approve properly graded (uttama) materials/standards for temples and civic structures rather than inferior (adhama) ones.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides a weight-based specification—8/4/2 bhāras (using śarkarā as a standard)—to classify the Mahācala into superior, medium, or inferior grade, guiding quality control in temple-building and installation procedures.