Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Śarkarā-Saptamī Vrata: The Sugar Offering Rite to Savitṛ

Devanagari script

सहस्रेणाथ निष्काणां कृत्वा दद्याच्छतेन वा दशभिर्वाथ निष्केण तदर्धेनापि शक्तितः //

Transliteration

sahasreṇātha niṣkāṇāṃ kṛtvā dadyācchatena vā daśabhirvātha niṣkeṇa tadardhenāpi śaktitaḥ //

Translation

Having arranged a gift of a thousand niṣkas (gold coins), one may instead give a hundred; or (if not that), ten niṣkas—or even half of that—according to one’s ability.

Word by Word

• सहस्रेण (sahasreṇa): with a thousand

• अथ (atha): then/alternatively

• निष्काणाम् (niṣkāṇām): of niṣkas (gold coins/units)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having arranged/made (the intended gift)

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): one should give

• शतेन (chatena): with a hundred

• वा (vā): or

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• अथ (atha): or else

• निष्केण (niṣkeṇa): with a niṣka (as the unit of gold)

• तदर्धेन (tadardhena): with half of that

• अपि (api): even

• शक्तितः (śaktitaḥ): according to one’s capacity/means.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• niṣka

Tags

• Dharma
• Dana
• Merit
• Householder duties
• Puranic ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it teaches dharma through graded charity—merit is upheld by giving in proportion to one’s means rather than by a single fixed amount.

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

It frames dana (charitable giving) as a practical duty: if a large royal-scale gift (1000 niṣkas) is not possible, a householder or king should still give a smaller amount (100, 10, or even half), emphasizing sincerity and capacity-based righteousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the principle of scalable offerings in religious acts: donations (here measured in niṣkas) can be reduced stepwise without abandoning the rite, preserving the continuity of dharmic practice.