Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Karmic Cause of Purūravas’ Beauty and Fortune

Devanagari script

धेन्वाः प्रसूयमानायाः फलं दानस्य मे श्रुतम् कृष्णाजिनप्रदानं च वृषोत्सर्गस्तथैव च //

Transliteration

dhenvāḥ prasūyamānāyāḥ phalaṃ dānasya me śrutam kṛṣṇājinapradānaṃ ca vṛṣotsargastathaiva ca //

Translation

I have heard of the reward that comes from gifting a cow at the time she is about to give birth; likewise I have heard of the merit of giving a black antelope-skin (kṛṣṇājina) and of releasing a bull (vṛṣotsarga) in consecrated donation.

Word by Word

• धेन्वाः (dhenvāḥ): of a cow

• प्रसूयमानायाः (prasūyamānāyāḥ): that is in the act of calving / about to give birth

• फलं (phalaṃ): fruit, reward, merit

• दानस्य (dānasya): of giving, of donation

• मे (me): by me / for me

• श्रुतम् (śrutam): heard, learned from tradition

• कृष्णाजिनप्रदानम् (kṛṣṇājinapradānam): gifting of a black antelope hide (kṛṣṇājina)

• च (ca): and

• वृषोत्सर्गः (vṛṣotsargaḥ): the ceremonial release/donation of a bull

• तथैव (tathaiva): likewise, in the same way

• च (ca): also.

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (inquiring, within the Manu–Matsya dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dhenū (cow)
• Kṛṣṇājina (black antelope-skin)
• Vṛṣa (bull)

Tags

• Dāna
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Cattle-gifts
• Ritual merit
• Vrata/charity

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—specific charitable acts and their religious merit.

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

It highlights high-merit gifts recommended for a gṛhastha (and supported by kings through patronage): donating a cow at a sensitive, life-giving moment (calving), gifting protective/ascetic items like kṛṣṇājina, and performing vṛṣotsarga—acts seen as sustaining social and ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual element is vṛṣotsarga (bull-release donation), a formal charitable rite often connected with vows, expiations, and merit-making; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.