Matsya Purana — Description of the Akṣaya Tṛtīyā Observance, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

विप्रेषु दत्त्वा तानेव तथा सक्तून् सुसंकृतान् यथान्नभुङ्महाभागः फलमक्षय्यमश्नुते //

Transliteration

vipreṣu dattvā tāneva tathā saktūn susaṃkṛtān yathānnabhuṅmahābhāgaḥ phalamakṣayyamaśnute //

Translation

Nachdem man den Brāhmaṇas eben jenes gut zubereitete saktu (geröstetes Gerstenmehl) gegeben hat, nimmt der edle Mann danach selbst Speise zu sich; so, o Glücklicher, erlangt er eine unvergängliche Frucht.

Word by Word

• विप्रेषु (vipreṣu): among/unto Brāhmaṇas

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given

• तान् एव (tān eva): those very (items)

• तथा (tathā): likewise/then

• सक्तून् (saktūn): saktu, roasted grain flour (often barley) used as food/oblation

• सुसंकृतान् (susaṃkṛtān): well-prepared, properly refined

• यथा (yathā): then/thereafter, in due manner

• अन्नभुङ् (anna-bhuṅ): one who eats food, the eater (i.e., he himself partakes)

• महाभागः (mahābhāgaḥ): noble/fortunate person

• फलम् (phalam): fruit, merit

• अक्षय्यम् (akṣayyam): imperishable, inexhaustible

• अश्नुते (aśnute): attains, enjoys

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this adhyaya’s dāna-discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)
• Saktu (roasted grain flour)

Tags

• Dāna
• Anna-dāna
• Saktu-dāna
• Householder Dharma
• Punya (Merit)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—specifically the imperishable merit gained by giving prepared food (saktu) to Brāhmaṇas before eating oneself.

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

It teaches a core householder ethic: feed worthy recipients first (here, Brāhmaṇas) and then eat—framing food-giving as a dharmic act that yields akṣayya-phala (inexhaustible merit).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the prescribed sequence and purity of food-giving—offer properly prepared saktu in charity, then partake, to secure lasting merit.