Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

प्रतिलिख्य च यो दद्यात् सौवर्णकरिसंयुतम् कार्त्तिक्यां पुण्डरीकस्य यज्ञस्य फलभाग्भवेत् //

Transliteration

pratilikhya ca yo dadyāt sauvarṇakarisaṃyutam kārttikyāṃ puṇḍarīkasya yajñasya phalabhāgbhavet //

Translation

Whoever, after having it copied, donates it together with a golden image of an elephant—especially in the month of Kārttika—becomes a sharer in the merit, the fruit, of the Puṇḍarīka sacrifice (yajña).

Word by Word

• प्रतिलिख्य: having caused to be copied / having copied

• च: and

• यः: whoever

• दद्यात्: should give, donates

• सौवर्ण: golden, made of gold

• करि: elephant

• संयुतम्: joined with, accompanied by

• कार्त्तिक्यां: in (the month of) Kārttika

• पुण्डरीकस्य: of the Puṇḍarīka (yajña/rite)

• यज्ञस्य: of the sacrifice

• फलभाग्: a partaker of the fruit/merit

• भवेत्: becomes

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s teaching tradition; the instruction is presented as Purāṇic injunction)

Entities Mentioned

• Kārttika (month)
• Puṇḍarīka-yajña

Tags

• Dāna
• Kārttika-vrata
• Yajña-phala
• Textual donation
• Punya

FAQs

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

It does not discuss Pralaya; it teaches how charitable gifting—especially in Kārttika—can yield merit comparable to major Vedic sacrifices.

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

It frames a householder/royal duty of dāna: sponsoring copying (preservation/transmission) and donating valuable ritual objects, thereby accruing yajña-like merit without performing an elaborate sacrifice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it links Kārttika-time donation of a copied item (likely a sacred text) plus a golden elephant offering to the merit of the Puṇḍarīka-yajña—highlighting donation as a substitute pathway to high sacrificial fruit.