Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

शूद्रः सुवर्णकारश्च नाम्ना शौण्डो ऽभवत्तदा भृत्यो लीलावतीगेहे तेन हेम्ना विनिर्मिताः //

Transliteration

śūdraḥ suvarṇakāraśca nāmnā śauṇḍo 'bhavattadā bhṛtyo līlāvatīgehe tena hemnā vinirmitāḥ //

Translation

At that time there was a Śūdra who worked as a goldsmith, named Śauṇḍa. He served as a household attendant in Līlāvatī’s home, and with that gold various objects were fashioned.

Word by Word

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ): a Śūdra

• सुवर्णकारः (suvarṇakāraḥ): goldsmith

• च (ca): and

• नाम्ना (nāmnā): by name

• शौण्डः (śauṇḍaḥ): Śauṇḍa

• अभवत् (abhavat): became/was

• तदा (tadā): then/at that time

• भृत्यः (bhṛtyaḥ): servant/retainer

• लीलावती-गेहे (līlāvatī-gehe): in Līlāvatī’s house

• तेन (tena): by him/with that

• हेम्ना (hemnā): with gold

• विनिर्मिताः (vinirmitāḥ): were made/constructed (fashioned).

Speaker

• Sūta (narration within the Matsya Purana’s ongoing discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Śauṇḍa
• Līlāvatī

Tags

• Household
• Craftsmanship
• Goldsmith
• Social Orders
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a narrative detail describing an artisan-servant (Śauṇḍa) and the making of items from gold in Līlāvatī’s household.

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

It reflects household organization and patronage of skilled labor—how a householder’s establishment could include retainers and specialized craftsmen who produce valuable goods for domestic or ceremonial use.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the technical point is artisanal production—goldwork fashioned from available gold—often relevant to ornaments and ritual objects in broader Purāṇic practice.