Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Aṅgāra

Devanagari script

सुवर्णशृङ्गीं कपिलाम् अथार्च्य रौप्यैः सुरैः कांस्यदोहां सवत्साम् धुरंधरं रक्तमतीव सौम्यं धान्यानि सप्ताम्बरसंयुतानि //

Transliteration

suvarṇaśṛṅgīṃ kapilām athārcya raupyaiḥ suraiḥ kāṃsyadohāṃ savatsām dhuraṃdharaṃ raktamatīva saumyaṃ dhānyāni saptāmbarasaṃyutāni //

Translation

After duly worshipping a tawny (kapilā) cow whose horns are sheathed in gold and adorning her with silver ornaments, one should offer a milch-cow that yields her milk into a bronze vessel, together with her calf—fit for the yoke, red-hued, and exceedingly gentle—along with grains, accompanied by seven garments.

Word by Word

• suvarṇa-śṛṅgīm: having golden horns (gold-sheathed horns)

• kapilām: tawny, light-brown cow

• atha: then/thereupon

• ārcya: having worshipped/after worshipping

• raupyaiḥ: with silver (ornaments)

• suraiḥ: ornaments/adornments (lit. ‘excellent/bright’, here as decorative items)

• kāṃsya-dohām: whose milking is into kāṃsya (bronze) / yielding milk in a bronze vessel

• sa-vatsām: together with a calf

• dhuraṃdharām: capable of bearing the yoke/burden (a strong draught cow)

• raktām: red-hued

• atīva: exceedingly

• saumyam: gentle, auspicious, pleasant-tempered

• dhānyāni: grains/cereals

• sapta-ambara-saṃyutāni: accompanied by seven garments/cloths

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Kapila cow
• Dāna (ritual gifting)

Tags

• Dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Go-dāna
• Householder Dharma
• Merit (Puṇya)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s Dāna–Dharma instructions, detailing auspicious specifications for ritual gifting (especially go-dāna) to generate merit.

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

It frames a householder/kingly duty as charitable giving done with proper ritual respect: worship first, then donate a healthy, gentle cow with her calf, plus supporting gifts (grains and cloth), reflecting disciplined generosity rather than casual almsgiving.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): the verse prescribes the ideal attributes and accessories for go-dāna—gold-sheathed horns, silver adornment, milking into a bronze vessel, inclusion of the calf, and the addition of grains and seven garments.