Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayāga

Devanagari script

न ते गच्छन्ति वै स्वर्गं दातारो यत्र भोगिनः अनेनकर्मणा युक्ताः पच्यन्ते नरके पुनः //

Transliteration

na te gacchanti vai svargaṃ dātāro yatra bhoginaḥ anenakarmaṇā yuktāḥ pacyante narake punaḥ //

Translation

Truly, those “givers” do not attain heaven—those who give while remaining attached to enjoyment. Bound by such action, they are cooked again in hell.

Word by Word

• na: not

• te: they

• gacchanti: go/attain

• vai: indeed/truly

• svargam: heaven

• dātāraḥ: givers/donors

• yatra: who/wherein (in whom)

• bhoginaḥ: enjoyers, pleasure-seekers, those attached to sense-enjoyment

• anena: by this

• karmaṇā: act/deed (of giving done wrongly)

• yuktāḥ: joined with, bound/tainted by

• pacyante: are cooked, tormented

• narake: in hell

• punaḥ: again, repeatedly

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on dana-dharma (likely framing in the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Svarga
• Naraka

Tags

• Dharma
• Dana
• Karma
• Ethics
• Afterlife

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches karma-phala in the moral order—how intention-tainted giving leads to naraka rather than svarga.

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

It warns rulers and householders that dana must be done with purity and non-attachment; charity performed for prestige, indulgence, or self-serving enjoyment does not yield heavenly merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is ethical—dana is spiritually effective only when not corrupted by bhoga (self-indulgent motive).