Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

सुवर्णाश्वः प्रदातव्यः पूर्ववन्मन्त्रवादनम् न वित्तशाठ्यं कुर्वीत कुर्वन्दोषं समश्नुते //

Transliteration

suvarṇāśvaḥ pradātavyaḥ pūrvavanmantravādanam na vittaśāṭhyaṃ kurvīta kurvandoṣaṃ samaśnute //

Translation

A horse (or horse-figure) of gold should be given, accompanied—just as before—by the recitation of mantras. One should not practice deceit regarding wealth; for the one who does so incurs (and must bear) the fault.

Word by Word

• suvarṇa: gold

• aśvaḥ: horse

• pradātavyaḥ: should be given (is to be donated)

• pūrvavat: as previously stated/according to the earlier procedure

• mantravādanam: utterance/recitation of mantras

• na: not

• vitta: wealth/property

• śāṭhyam: deception/fraud

• kurvīta: should do/practice

• kurvan: doing/while doing

• doṣam: sin/fault/demerit

• samaśnute: partakes of/undergoes/incurs

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vishnu
• Manu

Tags

• Dāna
• Dharma
• Ritual
• Mantra
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—how gifts should be given with mantra-recitation and with honesty.

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

It frames charity as a disciplined duty: a king or householder should give prescribed gifts (here, a golden horse) following ritual procedure, and must avoid financial deceit, since cheating in giving produces moral demerit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual point is “pūrvavat mantravādanam”—the donation must be accompanied by proper mantra-recitation as laid down earlier, emphasizing correctness of rite and purity of intent rather than any architectural rule.