Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

गृहस्य पुरतो भक्त्या मण्डपं कारयेद्बुधः दशहस्तमथाष्टौ वा करान्कुर्याद्विशां पते //

Transliteration

gṛhasya purato bhaktyā maṇḍapaṃ kārayedbudhaḥ daśahastamathāṣṭau vā karānkuryādviśāṃ pate //

Translation

In front of the house, the wise man should, with devotion, have a maṇḍapa constructed; let it be made either ten hastas in measure, or else eight hastas, O lord of the people.

Word by Word

• गृहस्य (gṛhasya): of the house

• पुरतः (purataḥ): in front

• भक्त्या (bhaktyā): with devotion, reverently

• मण्डपम् (maṇḍapam): pavilion, ritual hall

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be made, should have constructed

• बुधः (budhaḥ): the wise person

• दशहस्तम् (daśa-hastam): ten cubits (lit. ten hands)

• अथ (atha): or, alternatively

• अष्टौ (aṣṭau): eight

• वा (vā): or

• करान् (karān): cubits/measures (lit. hands)

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should make

• विशां पते (viśāṃ pate): O lord of the subjects/people (address to the king/Manu).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Mandapa
• Griha-ritual
• Measurements
• Puranic architecture

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on Vastuvidya—practical rules for constructing a ritual pavilion (maṇḍapa) in front of a house.

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

It presents a householder’s (and by extension a king’s) duty to arrange proper sacred space: a maṇḍapa built reverently for rites, with standard, rule-based measurements.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies siting (in front of the house) and canonical dimensions (either 10 or 8 hastas) for a maṇḍapa, indicating standardized pavilion-sizing within Matsya Purana’s Vastu framework.