Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga and the Supremacy of Cow-Donation

Devanagari script

यत्रासौ लभते जन्म सा गौस्तस्याभिजायते न च पश्यति तं घोरं नरकं तेन कर्मणा उत्तरान्स कुरून्प्राप्य मोदते कालमक्षयम् //

Transliteration

yatrāsau labhate janma sā gaustasyābhijāyate na ca paśyati taṃ ghoraṃ narakaṃ tena karmaṇā uttarānsa kurūnprāpya modate kālamakṣayam //

Translation

Wherever he attains a new birth, that very cow is born there as belonging to him; and by that deed he does not behold the dreadful hell. Reaching the Northern Kurus, he rejoices for imperishable time.

Word by Word

• yatra: wherever

• asau: that person (the giver/performer)

• labhate: obtains

• janma: birth

• sā gauḥ: that cow

• tasya: of him/belonging to him

• abhijāyate: is born/comes into existence

• na ca: and not

• paśyati: sees/experiences

• tam: that

• ghoram: terrible/dreadful

• narakam: hell

• tena: by that

• karmaṇā: act/deed (meritorious action, esp. go-dāna/go-rakṣaṇa)

• uttarān: northern

• sa: he

• kurūn: the Kurus (Uttara-Kuru realm)

• prāpya: having reached

• modate: rejoices/delights

• kālam: for a time/through time

• akṣayam: imperishable, undecaying.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting the फलश्रुति (merit-results) within the Matsya Purana discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Uttara-Kuru
• Naraka
• Gau (Cow)

Tags

• Dharma
• Go-dana
• Karma-phala
• Heavenly realms
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches karma-phala: a meritorious act connected with the cow leads to freedom from hell and enjoyment in the Uttara-Kuru realm.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of go-dāna and go-rakṣaṇa (donating and protecting cows), presenting them as high-merit actions that secure auspicious rebirth and avert naraka.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the फलश्रुति of go-dāna—its spiritual “result” is stated as non-encounter with hell and attainment of a blissful realm.