Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Sarva-Phala-Tyaga Vrata

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यपात्रत्रयोपेतं यमरुद्रवृषान्वितम् धेन्वा सहैव शान्ताय विप्रायाथ कुटुम्बिने सपत्नीकाय सम्पूज्य पुण्ये ऽह्नि विनिवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

bhakṣyapātratrayopetaṃ yamarudravṛṣānvitam dhenvā sahaiva śāntāya viprāyātha kuṭumbine sapatnīkāya sampūjya puṇye 'hni vinivedayet //

Translation

On an auspicious day, one should duly worship and then offer to a peaceful Brāhmaṇa who maintains a household—together with his wife—a gift consisting of three vessels of edible offerings, along with images/emblems of Yama, Rudra, and a bull, and also a cow.

Word by Word

• bhakṣya: edible offering/food

• pātra: vessel/bowl

• traya-upetam: furnished with three (sets)

• yama: Yama (Lord of Dharma/death)

• rudra: Rudra (Śiva aspect)

• vṛṣa-anvitam: accompanied by a bull (emblem)

• dhenvā saha: together with a cow

• śāntāya: to a calm/peaceful (worthy) recipient

• viprāya: to a Brāhmaṇa

• atha: then

• kuṭumbine: to a householder (family-man)

• sapatnīkāya: along with (his) wife

• sampūjya: having worshipped/honoured properly

• puṇye 'hni: on a holy/meritorious day

• vinivedayet: should present/offer (formally).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, as part of dharma teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Rudra
• Vṛṣa (Bull emblem)
• Dhenū (Cow)
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Householder (Kuṭumbin)

Tags

• Dāna
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual procedure
• Punya-kāla
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—how and to whom ritual gifts should be offered for merit on an auspicious day.

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

It prescribes a householder-style charitable act: honoring a qualified, peaceful Brāhmaṇa householder (with his wife) and formally presenting food-vessels and cattle, reflecting the Purāṇic ideal of sustaining dharma through regulated giving.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the formal procedure of dāna: selecting a puṇya-day, performing proper worship (sampūjya), and offering specific sanctioned items (food vessels, cow, and symbolic emblems of deities) to an eligible recipient.