Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

भारेण वार्धभारेण कुर्याद्यः स्वल्पवित्तवान् विष्कम्भपर्वतान्कुर्यात् तुरीयांशेन मानवः //

Transliteration

bhāreṇa vārdhabhāreṇa kuryādyaḥ svalpavittavān viṣkambhaparvatānkuryāt turīyāṃśena mānavaḥ //

Translation

A man of limited means should build taking one bhāra—or even a half-bhāra—as his standard; and he should make the transverse supports (viṣkambha-parvatas) at one-fourth of that measure, O Manu.

Word by Word

• भारेण (bhāreṇa): by a load/standard weight-measure

• वार्धभारेण (vārdhabhāreṇa): by a half-load/half of that standard

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should make/should construct

• यः (yaḥ): who

• स्वल्पवित्तवान् (svalpavittavān): having little wealth, of modest resources

• विष्कम्भ (viṣkambha): cross-beam, transverse brace, span-support

• पर्वतान् (parvatān): raised masses/projections/pier-like supports (technical term for structural ‘mounds’/buttress-like members)

• कुर्यात् (kuryāt): should construct

• तुरीयांशेन (turīyāṃśena): with a fourth part, by one-quarter

• मानवः (mānavaḥ): O Manu / O man (address).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Construction Proportions
• Structural Engineering
• Temple Architecture
• Matsya Purana Vastuvidya

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is technical Vastuvidya, prescribing practical construction measures rather than cosmology or Pralaya narratives.

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

It frames building as a dharmic, regulated activity: even a householder of modest wealth should follow measured standards and safe proportions, reflecting responsible stewardship and orderly settlement planning.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a proportional rule: for economical construction, set the primary standard by a load/half-load and size the transverse structural supports (viṣkambha elements) at one-quarter—an early Puranic guideline for safe, budget-aware design.