Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Rites for Consecrating and Celebrating Trees

Devanagari script

हेमसूत्रैः सकटकैर् अङ्गुलीयपवित्रकैः वासोभिः शयनीयैश्च तथोपस्करपादुकैः क्षीरेण भोजनं दद्याद् यावद्दिनचतुष्टयम् //

Transliteration

hemasūtraiḥ sakaṭakair aṅgulīyapavitrakaiḥ vāsobhiḥ śayanīyaiśca tathopaskarapādukaiḥ kṣīreṇa bhojanaṃ dadyād yāvaddinacatuṣṭayam //

Translation

With golden threads, small carts, rings and sacred finger-rings, garments and bedding, as well as household utensils and footwear—one should offer food prepared with milk for a full four days.

Word by Word

• hema-sūtraiḥ: with golden threads

• sakaṭakaiḥ: with small carts/hand-carts (vehicles for use or donation)

• aṅgulīya: finger-rings

• pavitrakaiḥ: with sacred rings/amulets used in rites

• vāsobhiḥ: with garments/clothes

• śayanīyaiḥ: with bedding/bed-articles

• ca: and

• tathā: likewise

• upaskara: household implements/utensils

• pādukaiḥ: with footwear/sandals

• kṣīreṇa: with milk (milk-based)

• bhojanam: food/meal

• dadyāt: one should give/offer

• yāvat: up to/for the duration of

• dina-catuṣṭayam: four days (a set of four days).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s teaching on dāna; instruction ultimately attributed to the Purāṇic discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Dāna (charitable gifting)
• Kṣīra (milk)
• Pavitraka (ritual ring)

Tags

• Dāna-Dharma
• Ritual charity
• Householder duties
• Feeding rites
• Matsya Purana dharma rules

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—material gifts and a four-day milk-based feeding observance.

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

It outlines a householder-style duty of charity: donating useful goods (clothing, bedding, utensils, footwear, ritual items) and sustaining a feeding offering for four days—an ideal also applicable to royal patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the prescribed dāna list (including pavitraka ritual rings) and the specific duration—four days—of offering milk-based food, indicating a structured vow/feeding rite rather than Vāstu or temple-building rules.