Shloka 39

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Aṅgāra

Devanagari script

यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षय्यमिच्छता //

Transliteration

yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāsya dayitaṃ gṛhe tattadguṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣayyamicchatā //

Translation

Whatever one holds most dear in the world, and whatever is most beloved within one’s home—those very things should be given to a worthy person; for the one who seeks undiminishing merit, that alone becomes truly inexhaustible.

Word by Word

• yad-yad: whatever (each thing)

• iṣṭatamam: most desired, dearest

• loke: in the world

• yat ca: and whatever

• asya: of him/one’s

• dayitam: beloved, cherished

• gṛhe: in the house/home

• tat-tat: that very (same) thing

• guṇavate: to the virtuous/qualified person

• deyam: should be given

• tat eva: that alone indeed

• akṣayyam: imperishable, inexhaustible (merit)

• icchatā: by one who desires/seeks

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution typical of Matsya Purana discourse)

Tags

• Dāna
• Dharma
• Akṣaya-puṇya
• Householder duties
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it teaches dāna-dharma—how giving, especially of what one values most, yields akṣaya (undiminishing) merit.

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

It frames an ethical standard for giving: a householder (and likewise a king in public charity) should donate not leftovers but what is truly cherished, and should place it with a guṇavat (worthy, virtuous recipient) to maximize dharmic fruit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or iconographic rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the principle of akṣaya-dāna—offer valued possessions to qualified recipients to make the merit ‘inexhaustible’.