Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

पश्येदपीमानधनो ऽतिभक्त्या स्पृशेन्मनुष्यैरपि दीयमानान् शृणोति भक्त्याथ मतिं ददाति विकल्मषः सो ऽपि दिवं प्रयाति //

Transliteration

paśyedapīmānadhano 'tibhaktyā spṛśenmanuṣyairapi dīyamānān śṛṇoti bhaktyātha matiṃ dadāti vikalmaṣaḥ so 'pi divaṃ prayāti //

Translation

Even a poor man, if he beholds them with intense devotion, touches (or reverently receives) what is being given by others, listens with devotion, and then offers counsel (his understanding)—he becomes free from sin, and he too attains heaven.

Word by Word

• paśyet: may see/behold

• api: even

• imān: these (sacred acts/objects/persons, contextually)

• adhanoḥ: a poor man

• atibhaktyā: with great devotion

• spṛśet: may touch/reverently receive

• manuṣyaiḥ api: even by (other) people

• dīyamānān: things being given/being donated

• śṛṇoti: he hears/listens

• bhaktyā: with devotion

• atha: then/thereupon

• matim: understanding, counsel, right-minded advice

• dadāti: gives/offers

• vikalmaṣaḥ: free from defilement/sinless

• saḥ api: he also

• divam: heaven

• prayāti: goes/attains.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s discourse style)

Entities Mentioned

• Manuṣya (human beings)
• Diva (Svarga/Heaven)

Tags

• Bhakti
• Dana
• Punya
• Svarga
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches that devotional participation—seeing, touching/receiving, listening, and offering good counsel—purifies sin and leads to heaven.

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

It frames dharma as accessible even to the poor: a householder (and by extension a king) should honor charitable acts, listen to sacred instruction, and offer wise guidance—these supportive actions also generate merit, not only direct giving.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-measurement rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the theology of “participatory merit,” where reverent witnessing, respectful contact, attentive hearing, and dharmic counsel around donations are themselves spiritually efficacious.