Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

तरवः सुरमुख्याश्च श्रद्धायुक्तेन पार्थिव अतिरूपेण सम्पन्ना घटयित्वा विना भृतिम् धर्मकार्यमिति ज्ञात्वा न गृह्णाति कथंचन //

Transliteration

taravaḥ suramukhyāśca śraddhāyuktena pārthiva atirūpeṇa sampannā ghaṭayitvā vinā bhṛtim dharmakāryamiti jñātvā na gṛhṇāti kathaṃcana //

Translation

O king, even trees and the foremost among the gods—when worship is performed with faith and with excellent, well-prepared offerings—do not accept it in any way if it has been obtained or arranged without proper recompense, understanding that it is an act that must be righteous (dharma).

Word by Word

• पार्थिव (pārthiva): O king

• तरवः (taravaḥ): trees

• सुरमुख्याः (suramukhyāḥ): the foremost gods

• च (ca): and

• श्रद्धायुक्तेन (śraddhāyuktena): endowed with faith

• अतिरूपेण (atirūpeṇa): excellently, in fine form

• सम्पन्नाः (sampannāḥ): well-provided, duly furnished

• घटयित्वा (ghaṭayitvā): having arranged/assembled/made ready

• विना (vinā): without

• भृतिम् (bhṛtim): wages, maintenance, due payment/recompense

• धर्मकार्यम् (dharmakāryam): a righteous act/duty

• इति (iti): thus

• ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā): knowing/understanding

• न (na): not

• गृह्णाति (gṛhṇāti): accepts/takes

• कथंचन (kathaṃcana): in any manner whatsoever.

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (addressed as 'pārthiva') within a dharma-upadeśa context

Entities Mentioned

• Suramukhyas (foremost gods)
• Taravaḥ (trees)

Tags

• Dharma
• Dana
• Rajadharma
• Ethics
• Ritual purity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharma—specifically, the ethics of arranging offerings and the principle that unrighteous procurement invalidates religious merit.

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

It warns a patron (especially a king) not to sponsor rites or gifts using goods produced or obtained without fair payment—implying that exploiting labor undermines dharmic merit and should be avoided in royal and household economics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it stresses that offerings must be prepared in a righteous manner (including fair recompense), suggesting that external excellence of ritual items is insufficient without ethical sourcing.