Shloka 60

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

सूर्याय कपिलां धेनुं शङ्खं दद्यात्तथेन्दवे रक्तं धुरंधरं दद्याद् भौमाय च ककुद्मिनम् //

Transliteration

sūryāya kapilāṃ dhenuṃ śaṅkhaṃ dadyāttathendave raktaṃ dhuraṃdharaṃ dadyād bhaumāya ca kakudminam //

Translation

One should gift a tawny kapilā cow to the Sun; likewise, a śaṅkha (conch) to the Moon. One should give to Bhauma (Mars) a red, load-bearing bull (dhurandhara), and also a humped bull (kakudmin) to Bhauma.

Word by Word

• सूर्याय: to the Sun (Sūrya)

• कपिलाम्: tawny, brownish

• धेनुम्: milch-cow

• शङ्खम्: conch-shell

• दद्यात्: should give (as a gift)

• तथा: likewise

• इन्दवे: to the Moon (Indu)

• रक्तम्: red

• धुरंधरम्: capable of bearing a yoke/burden, strong (bull/ox)

• दद्याद्: should give

• भौमाय: to Mars (Bhauma)

• च: and/also

• ककुद्मिनम्: humped, having a prominent hump (bull), strong-backed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Indu (Chandra)
• Bhauma (Mangala/Mars)

Tags

• Dāna
• Navagraha
• Surya
• Chandra
• Mangala
• Ritual gifting

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to Dāna-dharma and lists specific ritual gifts associated with planetary deities (Navagraha-related charity).

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

It frames charity (dāna) as a prescribed dharmic duty: householders (and kings as patrons) support ritual order by giving appropriate, symbolically matched gifts to deities, often for merit and graha-śānti (pacification).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it encodes graha-specific dāna: a cow for Sūrya, a conch for Candra, and strong bulls for Bhauma—items used in planetary appeasement rites rather than Vāstu or temple-construction rules.