Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Ravi-Saṅkrānti Vow: Udyāpana

Devanagari script

पयस्विनीः शीलवतीश्च दद्याद् धर्मैः शृङ्गैः रौप्यखुरैश्च युक्ताः गावो ऽष्ट वा सप्त सकांस्यदोहा माल्याम्बरा वा चतुरो ऽप्यशक्तः दौर्गत्ययुक्तः कपिलामथैकां निवेदयेद्ब्राह्मणपुंगवाय //

Transliteration

payasvinīḥ śīlavatīśca dadyād dharmaiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ raupyakhuraiśca yuktāḥ gāvo 'ṣṭa vā sapta sakāṃsyadohā mālyāmbarā vā caturo 'pyaśaktaḥ daurgatyayuktaḥ kapilāmathaikāṃ nivedayedbrāhmaṇapuṃgavāya //

Translation

One should gift milk-yielding, well-behaved cows, furnished with (golden) horns and silvered hooves. Let there be eight or seven cows, milked into bronze vessels; or, if one lacks the means, even four—adorned with garlands and cloth. But one afflicted by poverty should present at least a single tawny (kapilā) cow to an eminent Brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• पयस्विनीः (payasvinīḥ): milk-giving cows

• शीलवतीः (śīlavatīḥ): of good disposition/well-trained

• च (ca): and

• दद्याद् (dadyād): should give (as charity)

• धर्मैः (dharmaiḥ): with gold (lit. “dharma,” used as a term for gold/auspicious metal in dāna context)

• शृङ्गैः (śṛṅgaiḥ): with horns

• रौप्यखुरैः (raupyakhuraiḥ): with silvered hooves

• च (ca): and

• युक्ताः (yuktāḥ): endowed/fitted

• गावः (gāvaḥ): cows

• अष्ट (aṣṭa): eight

• वा (vā): or

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• सकांस्यदोहाः (sakāṃsya-dohāḥ): whose milking is into bronze vessels / accompanied by bronze milking-pails

• माल्य-अम्बरा (mālya-ambarā): with garlands and cloth coverings

• वा (vā): or

• चतुरः (caturaḥ): four

• अपि (api): even

• अशक्तः (aśaktaḥ): one who is unable (lacking means)

• दौर्गत्ययुक्तः (daurgatya-yuktaḥ): afflicted with misfortune/poverty

• कपिलाम् (kapilām): a tawny cow

• अथ (atha): then/indeed

• एकाम् (ekām): one

• निवेदयेत् (nivedayet): should present/offer

• ब्राह्मणपुंगवाय (brāhmaṇa-puṃgavāya): to a foremost Brāhmaṇa.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (Dāna-dharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa (brāhmaṇa-puṃgava)
• Kapilā cow (tawny cow)

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Householder Dharma
• Merit (Puṇya)
• Ritual Charity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—how charitable gifts (especially cow-gifts) are to be made according to one’s capacity.

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

It gives a graded ethical rule for householders (and patrons like kings): donate cows with proper auspicious fittings when able, and if resources are limited, still perform charity at a reduced scale—at minimum offering one kapilā cow to a worthy Brāhmaṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is in the prescribed “auspicious equipment” and presentation—golden horns, silvered hooves, bronze milking vessels, garlands, and cloth—indicating formalized standards for go-dāna offerings rather than Vāstu or temple architecture.