Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

श्रावण्यां श्रावणे मासि गुडधेनुसमन्वितम् यो दद्याद्वृषसंयुक्तं ब्राह्मणाय कुटुम्बिने शिवलोके स पूतात्मा कल्पमेकं वसेन्नरः //

Transliteration

śrāvaṇyāṃ śrāvaṇe māsi guḍadhenusamanvitam yo dadyādvṛṣasaṃyuktaṃ brāhmaṇāya kuṭumbine śivaloke sa pūtātmā kalpamekaṃ vasennaraḥ //

Translation

Whoever, in the month of Śrāvaṇa, on the Śrāvaṇī observance, gives to a householder brāhmaṇa a cow accompanied by jaggery (the “gudadhenu” gift) and joined with a bull—he, purified in soul, dwells in Śiva’s world for one full kalpa.

Word by Word

• śrāvaṇyām: on Śrāvaṇī (the Śrāvaṇa observance/day)

• śrāvaṇe māsi: in the month of Śrāvaṇa

• guḍa-dhenu-samanvitam: endowed with the ‘jaggery-cow’ gift / accompanied by jaggery as part of the cow-gift

• yaḥ: whoever

• dadyāt: would give

• vṛṣa-saṃyuktam: together with a bull

• brāhmaṇāya: to a brāhmaṇa

• kuṭumbine: a householder (with a family)

• śiva-loke: in Śiva’s world

• saḥ: he

• pūta-ātmā: purified-souled

• kalpam ekam: one kalpa

• vaset: may dwell

• naraḥ: a man

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śrāvaṇa (month)
• Śrāvaṇī (observance)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Śiva

Tags

• Dāna
• Śrāvaṇa-vrata
• Householder Dharma
• Punya (Merit)
• Cow-gift

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on Dāna-dharma—how specific gifts in Śrāvaṇa yield exalted posthumous merit (residence in Śiva-loka).

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

It prescribes a meritorious act of giving—donating a cow with jaggery and a bull to a family-holding brāhmaṇa—highlighting the householder ethic of supporting Vedic life through targeted charity during auspicious times.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it specifies timing (Śrāvaṇa/Śrāvaṇī) and the exact form of the gift (cow + jaggery component + bull) as a dāna-vidhi that produces a stated spiritual फल (reward).