Matsya Purana — The Rite of Gifting the ‘Silver Mountain’, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अशक्तो विंशतेरूर्ध्वं कारयेच्छक्तितस्तदा विष्कम्भपर्वतांस्तद्वत् तुरीयांशेन कल्पयेत् //

Transliteration

aśakto viṃśaterūrdhvaṃ kārayecchaktitastadā viṣkambhaparvatāṃstadvat turīyāṃśena kalpayet //

Translation

Wenn jemand (das vorgeschriebene Werk) nicht über zwanzig (Einheiten) hinaus ausführen kann, soll er es nach seiner Kraft ausführen lassen. Ebenso sind die Quermaße (viṣkambha) und die erhöhten Partien (parvata) im Verhältnis anzusetzen, indem man ein Viertel (turīyāṁśa) zugrunde legt.

Word by Word

• aśaktaḥ: one who is unable

• viṁśateḥ ūrdhvam: beyond twenty (units/measure)

• kārayet: should cause to be made/constructed

• śakti-tas: according to one’s ability/resources

• tadā: then

• viṣkambha: breadth, diameter, transverse measure

• parvatān: raised parts/mounds/projections (architectural elevations)

• tadvat: likewise/in the same manner

• turīya-aṁśena: by a quarter portion

• kalpayet: should arrange/compute/proportion.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, Vastuvidya context)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple architecture
• Measurements
• Proportions
• Construction rules

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it gives practical Vastu guidance on scaling construction measurements when one cannot follow the full prescribed dimension.

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

It frames dharmic practicality: a patron (king/householder) should undertake building works within means, maintaining proportional harmony rather than abandoning the project or violating core design ratios.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It authorizes proportional reduction—especially using a quarter-share rule (turīyāṁśa)—for key dimensions like breadth/diameter (viṣkambha) and raised elements (parvata), preserving canonical Vastu symmetry under constraints.