Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

गवां शतसहस्रेभ्यो दद्यादेकां पयस्विनीम् पुत्रान्दारांस्तथा भृत्यान् गौरेका प्रति तारयेत् //

Transliteration

gavāṃ śatasahasrebhyo dadyādekāṃ payasvinīm putrāndārāṃstathā bhṛtyān gaurekā prati tārayet //

Translation

Even among hundreds of thousands of cows, one should give as a gift a single milk-yielding cow; by that one cow, a person is said to help ferry across to spiritual welfare his sons, wife, and even his dependents.

Word by Word

• gavām: of cows

• śata-sahasrebhyaḥ: from/among hundreds of thousands

• dadyāt: one should give (as a gift)

• ekām: one (single)

• payasvinīm: milk-giving, lactating

• putrān: sons

• dārān: wife/wives (household)

• tathā: and also

• bhṛtyān: servants/dependents/retainers

• gauḥ ekā: one cow

• prati: in return/thereby/with regard to

• tārayet: should ferry across, deliver, help to cross (saṃsāra/evil destiny)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Gau (Cow)
• Putra (sons)
• Dāra (wife/household)
• Bhṛtya (dependents)

Tags

• Dana
• Go-dana
• Householder Dharma
• Punya
• Ritual Charity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma, specifically the salvific merit attributed to gifting a milk-yielding cow.

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

It presents a householder-oriented ethic of charity: even a single properly offered go-dāna is praised as generating merit that supports the welfare of one’s entire household—children, spouse, and dependents.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is go-dāna (donation of a lactating cow) as a high-merit charitable act; no Vāstu or temple-architecture instruction is stated in this verse.