Shloka 49

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

आ सप्तरात्रोदयम् एतदस्य दातव्यमेतत्सकलं नरेण यावत्समाः सप्त दशाथवा स्युर् अथोर्ध्वमप्यत्र वदन्ति केचित् //

Transliteration

ā saptarātrodayam etadasya dātavyametatsakalaṃ nareṇa yāvatsamāḥ sapta daśāthavā syur athordhvamapyatra vadanti kecit //

Translation

Up to the completion of seven nights, a man should give all of this as prescribed—continuing for seven years, or for ten years; and some authorities even speak of continuing beyond that.

Word by Word

• ā: up to, until

• saptarātra-udayam: the completion/culmination of seven nights (a seven-night observance)

• etat: this (prescribed act/obligation)

• asya: of this (rite/observance)

• dātavyam: is to be given, should be donated

• etat sakalam: all of this, the whole of it

• nareṇa: by a man (the performer/householder)

• yāvat: as long as, up to the extent that

• samāḥ: years

• sapta: seven

• daśa: ten

• athavā: or else

• syuḥ: may be (should be undertaken for)

• atha: and then/further

• ūrdhvam api: even beyond (that)

• atra: here, in this matter

• vadanti: say, state

• kecit: some (teachers/authorities).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Saptarātra (seven-night observance)
• Dāna (ritual giving)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Kalpa
• Ritual timing
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharmic procedure—how long a prescribed giving/observance should be maintained (seven nights as a unit, extended across years).

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

It frames a disciplined pattern of dāna and vrata: the performer should complete the prescribed gifts through a seven-night cycle and sustain the practice for a long term (seven or ten years, or more), reflecting steadiness and accountability expected of householders and rulers alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it specifies the temporal discipline of an observance—completion of a seven-night cycle and its recommended long-term continuation, with acknowledgment of differing traditional opinions.