Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

ग्रामाश्च गुरवे भक्त्या विप्रेषु द्वादशैव तु वस्त्रालंकारसंयुक्ता गावश्च करकान्विताः //

Transliteration

grāmāśca gurave bhaktyā vipreṣu dvādaśaiva tu vastrālaṃkārasaṃyuktā gāvaśca karakānvitāḥ //

Translation

With devotion, one should donate villages to one’s teacher; and to the brāhmaṇas, twelve cows—adorned with cloth and ornaments, and fitted with (golden) metal fittings according to rite.

Word by Word

• grāmāḥ: villages

• ca: and

• gurave: to the guru/teacher

• bhaktyā: with devotion

• vipreṣu: to the brāhmaṇas/learned priests

• dvādaśa: twelve

• eva: indeed/precisely

• tu: and/further

• vastra: cloth/garments

• alaṃkāra: ornaments/adornments

• saṃyuktāḥ: furnished with/combined with

• gāvaḥ: cows

• ca: and

• karaka-anvitāḥ: provided with karaka fittings (traditionally understood as metal/golden attachments or cowrie-like ornaments used in ceremonial gifting).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Purāṇic teaching on dāna-dharma)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Brāhmaṇas
• Gāvaḥ (cows)
• Grāma (village)

Tags

• Dāna
• Dharma
• Guru-bhakti
• Brāhmaṇa-sevā
• Ritual gifting

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on dāna-dharma—meritorious gifting to a guru and to brāhmaṇas.

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

It frames an ethical duty of patronage: a king (able to grant villages) or a wealthy householder should honor the guru and support brāhmaṇas through properly endowed gifts (not merely symbolic, but materially sufficient and respectful).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is in the prescribed form of dāna: cows should be ceremonially presented with garments and ornaments (and traditional fittings), indicating a formal, auspicious gifting protocol rather than a bare transfer.