Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

*वसिष्ठ उवाच पुरा लीलावती नाम वेश्या शिवपरायणा तया दत्तश्चतुर्दश्यां गुरवे लवणाचलः हेमवृक्षादिभिः सार्धं यथावद्विधिपूर्वकम् //

Transliteration

*vasiṣṭha uvāca purā līlāvatī nāma veśyā śivaparāyaṇā tayā dattaścaturdaśyāṃ gurave lavaṇācalaḥ hemavṛkṣādibhiḥ sārdhaṃ yathāvadvidhipūrvakam //

Translation

Vasiṣṭha said: Formerly there was a courtesan named Līlāvatī, wholly devoted to Śiva. On the fourteenth lunar day, she duly presented to her spiritual preceptor a “mountain of salt,” together with golden trees and other such offerings, in accordance with the proper ritual procedure.

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठ उवाच: Vasiṣṭha said

• पुरा: formerly/once upon a time

• लीलावती नाम: named Līlāvatī

• वेश्या: courtesan/prostitute

• शिवपरायणा: devoted solely to Śiva

• तया: by her

• दत्तः: was given/offered

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day (caturdaśī)

• गुरवे: to the guru/spiritual preceptor

• लवणाचलः: a heap/mound ‘mountain’ of salt (salt-hill offering)

• हेमवृक्षादिभिः: with golden trees and similar items

• सार्धम्: together with

• यथावत्: properly/as prescribed

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to ritual rule/with due procedure

Speaker

• Vasiṣṭha

Entities Mentioned

• Vasiṣṭha
• Līlāvatī
• Śiva
• Guru (spiritual preceptor)

Tags

• Dāna
• Śiva-bhakti
• Vrata
• Caturdaśī
• Ritual procedure

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dāna (ritual gifting) and Śiva-devotion, emphasizing that merit arises from offerings performed on an auspicious tithi with correct procedure.

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

It models dharmic conduct through charity: regardless of social status, one should honor the guru and perform prescribed gifts on sacred days (like caturdaśī), showing that disciplined giving and devotion are central householder duties in the Purāṇic ethic.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the prescribed dāna of a lavaṇācala (salt-mountain) and symbolic wealth-items like golden trees, performed yathāvad-vidhipūrvakam—highlighting the Matsya Purana’s stress on correct ritual protocol in gifts and vows.