Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभाते विमले संजाते ऽथ शतं गवाम् ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्यम् अष्टषष्टिश्च वा पुनः पञ्चाशद्वाथ षट्त्रिंशत् पञ्चविंशतिरप्यथ //

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhāte vimale saṃjāte 'tha śataṃ gavām brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradātavyam aṣṭaṣaṣṭiśca vā punaḥ pañcāśadvātha ṣaṭtriṃśat pañcaviṃśatirapyatha //

Translation

Then, when the pure morning has arisen, one should give cows to the Brāhmaṇas—either a hundred, or again sixty‑eight, or fifty, or thirty‑six, or even twenty‑five.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter

• prabhāte: at dawn/in the morning

• vimale: pure/clear

• saṃjāte: having arisen/come to be

• atha: then/indeed

• śatam: one hundred

• gavām: of cows

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the Brāhmaṇas

• pradātavyam: should be given/is to be donated

• aṣṭaṣaṣṭiḥ: sixty-eight

• ca: and

• vā: or

• punaḥ: again/further

• pañcāśat: fifty

• vātha: or else

• ṣaṭtriṃśat: thirty-six

• pañcaviṃśatiḥ: twenty-five

• api: even/also

• atha: then/indeed.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇas
• cows (go-dāna)

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Dharma
• Ritual
• Expiation

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of go-dāna (donation of cows) performed at an auspicious time (a pure morning) to generate religious merit.

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

It presents a practical dharmic duty: supporting Brāhmaṇas through regulated charity. For kings and householders, such prescribed gifts (with clear quantities) are a standard Purāṇic method to accrue merit and uphold social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: the verse specifies timing (at dawn) and enumerates acceptable gift-quantities (100/68/50/36/25 cows), indicating graded options within a dāna-vidhi framework.