Shloka 43

Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds

Devanagari script

कनकालंकृतां कृत्वा जले गामवतारयेत् सामगाय च सा देया ब्राह्मणाय विशां पते //

Transliteration

kanakālaṃkṛtāṃ kṛtvā jale gāmavatārayet sāmagāya ca sā deyā brāhmaṇāya viśāṃ pate //

Translation

O lord of the people, having adorned a cow with gold, one should lead her down into water; and that very cow should then be given in dāna to a Brāhmaṇa who chants the Sāma (Sāmaveda).

Word by Word

• kanaka-alaṃkṛtām: adorned with gold

• kṛtvā: having done/made

• jale: into water/in water

• gām: the cow

• avatārayet: should cause to descend/should lead down

• sāma-gāya: to a chanter of the Sāman (Sāmaveda)

• ca: and

• sā: that (cow)

• deyā: should be given

• brāhmaṇāya: to a Brāhmaṇa

• viśām pate: O lord of the people/king

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu/kingly inquirer

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Sāmagā (Sāmaveda chanter)
• Cow (Go-dāna)

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Ritual
• Vedic chanting
• Royal dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dharma through ritual charity (go-dāna) and the proper recipient (a Sāmaveda chanter).

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

It frames dāna as a royal/householder duty: the donor should perform a prescribed, respectful gifting of a cow—an archetypal high-merit donation—directed to a qualified Brāhmaṇa specialist.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a procedure: a cow ornamented with gold is ceremonially led into water and then donated to a Sāmagā Brāhmaṇa, highlighting formal steps and recipient-qualification in Purāṇic dāna-vidhi.