Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

आश्विने पञ्चदश्यां तु दद्याद्धेनुसमन्वितम् परमां सिद्धिमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभाम् //

Transliteration

āśvine pañcadaśyāṃ tu dadyāddhenusamanvitam paramāṃ siddhimāpnoti punarāvṛttidurlabhām //

Translation

On the fifteenth lunar day of the month of Āśvina, one should give a gift accompanied by a cow; by this, one attains the highest spiritual perfection, after which return to worldly rebirth is rare.

Word by Word

• आश्विने (āśvine): in the month of Āśvina

• पञ्चदश्याम् (pañcadaśyām): on the fifteenth (tithi)

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): one should give (as a gift)

• धेनु-समन्वितम् (dhenu-samanvitam): accompanied by a cow / with a cow included

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme/highest

• सिद्धिम् (siddhim): accomplishment, spiritual attainment

• आप्नोति (āpnoti): attains

• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभाम् (punarāvṛtti-durlabhām): in which return (to repeated existence) is difficult/rare (i.e., freedom from rebirth).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Āśvina
• Pañcadaśī
• Dhenu (cow)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Tithi
• Karma
• Moksha

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it teaches that properly timed charity (dāna) can lead to supreme attainment and release from repeated return (punarāvṛtti), a soteriological theme often linked to liberation beyond cosmic cycles.

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

It frames a householder/kingly duty as charitable giving on an auspicious tithi—specifically a gift that includes a cow—presented as a dharmic act yielding high spiritual fruit and supporting social-religious welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): it prescribes a tithi-specific dāna in Āśvina pañcadaśī and highlights go-dāna as a potent rite associated with supreme spiritual accomplishment.