Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

तत्पुराणं च यो दद्यात् सुवर्णकमलान्वितम् ज्येष्ठे मासि तिलैर्युक्तम् अश्वमेधफलं लभेत् //

Transliteration

tatpurāṇaṃ ca yo dadyāt suvarṇakamalānvitam jyeṣṭhe māsi tilairyuktam aśvamedhaphalaṃ labhet //

Translation

Whoever donates that Purāṇa—adorned with a golden lotus and accompanied by sesame seeds—in the month of Jyeṣṭha attains merit equal to that of performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice.

Word by Word

• tat-purāṇam: that Purāṇa (this scripture)

• ca: and

• yaḥ: whoever

• dadyāt: should give/donate

• suvarṇa-kamala-anvitam: furnished with a golden lotus (ornament/marker)

• jyeṣṭhe māsi: in the month of Jyeṣṭha

• tilaiḥ-yuktam: accompanied with sesame seeds (tila)

• aśvamedha-phalam: the fruit/merit of the Aśvamedha

• labhet: obtains/attains

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Purāṇa (scriptural gift)
• Jyeṣṭha month
• Tila (sesame)
• Aśvamedha

Tags

• Dāna
• Purāṇa-dāna
• Vrata
• Ritual merit
• Aśvamedha

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches dāna-dharma, stating that gifting the Purāṇa in a prescribed manner yields exceptionally high merit.

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

It frames a householder/kingly duty of charity: sponsoring sacred knowledge (Purāṇa-dāna) with proper ritual accompaniments (tila, auspicious ornamentation) as a dharmic act equivalent in merit to major royal sacrifices.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies the protocol for Purāṇa-dāna—timing (Jyeṣṭha), accompaniment (sesame seeds), and auspicious embellishment (golden lotus)—and links it to the highest-tier sacrificial merit (Aśvamedha).