Shloka 50

Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning

Devanagari script

लाववर्तकवार्ताकान् रक्तवर्त्मप्रभद्रकान् ताम्रचूडान्स्वर्णचूडान् कुक्कुटान् काष्ठकुक्कुटान् //

Transliteration

lāvavartakavārtākān raktavartmaprabhadrakān tāmracūḍānsvarṇacūḍān kukkuṭān kāṣṭhakukkuṭān //

Translation

“One may offer/include” quails (lāva) and partridges (vartaka), and other fowl—those with red markings and the prabhadraka breed; those with copper crests and golden crests; as well as domestic cocks and even the so‑called kāṣṭhakukkuṭa, ‘woodland cocks’.

Word by Word

• lāva: quail

• vartaka: partridge/francolin

• vārtāka: a kind of bird/fowl (regional breed, often grouped with game-birds)

• raktavartman: having red paths/markings (red-streaked/red-eyed)

• prabhadraka: a well-regarded breed/variety (lit. ‘excellent/auspicious’)

• tāmracūḍa: copper-crested (a named variety)

• svarṇacūḍa: golden-crested (a named variety)

• kukkuṭa: cock/rooster (domestic fowl)

• kāṣṭha-kukkuṭa: ‘wood/forest cock’ (a wild or rustic variety of fowl).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s dharma-related prescriptions in the Manu dialogue context)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Ritual offerings
• Auspicious gifts
• Matsya Purana dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is a dharma-oriented enumeration of acceptable birds/fowl as ritual gifts or offerings for accruing merit.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of dāna (charitable gifting) and ritual observance by specifying legitimate, auspicious varieties of birds that may be donated or offered in prescribed rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a catalog of sanctioned offering-items (specific bird varieties), reflecting the Matsya Purana’s concern for correct materials in dharmic ceremonies rather than Vastu or temple architecture.