Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Mountain of Jaggery’

Devanagari script

उत्तमो दशभिर्भारैर् मध्यमः पञ्चभिर्मतः त्रिभिर्भारैः कनिष्ठः स्यात् तदर्धेनाल्पवित्तवान् //

Transliteration

uttamo daśabhirbhārair madhyamaḥ pañcabhirmataḥ tribhirbhāraiḥ kaniṣṭhaḥ syāt tadardhenālpavittavān //

Translation

A man is regarded as ‘excellent’ if he possesses ten bhāras (loads/standard measures of wealth); ‘middling’ if he has five; ‘inferior’ if he has three; and one with half of that is deemed poor.

Word by Word

• uttamaḥ: the best/excellent class

• daśabhiḥ: by ten

• bhāraiḥ: by bhāras (loads/standard wealth-measures)

• madhyamaḥ: the middle class

• pañcabhiḥ: by five

• mataḥ: considered/held to be

• tribhiḥ: by three

• bhāraiḥ: by bhāras

• kaniṣṭhaḥ: the lowest/lesser class

• syāt: would be/is

• tad-ardhena: by half of that

• alpa-vittavān: one of little wealth/poor

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within dharma teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dana
• Wealth measures
• Social classification
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it sets a practical dharma-oriented scale of prosperity and poverty using the unit ‘bhāra’.

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

By defining ‘excellent, middling, inferior, and poor’ through measurable wealth, it aids kings in fair assessment for taxation, relief, and charity, and guides householders in self-assessment for dana (giving) and responsible living.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct vastu or ritual rule is stated; the significance is administrative—standardized wealth-measures that can inform temple endowments, donations, and resource planning.