Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

ततस्तु वृषभं हैमम् उदकुम्भसमन्वितम् शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरं पञ्चरत्नसमन्वितम् भक्ष्यैर्नानाविधैर्युक्तं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

tatastu vṛṣabhaṃ haimam udakumbhasamanvitam śuklamālyāmbaradharaṃ pañcaratnasamanvitam bhakṣyairnānāvidhairyuktaṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet //

Translation

Then one should present to a Brāhmaṇa a golden bull, accompanied by a water-pot, adorned with white garlands and white garments, furnished with the five gems, and supplied with various kinds of food offerings.

Word by Word

• tataḥ tu: then indeed

• vṛṣabham: a bull

• haimam: made of gold/golden

• udakumbha-samanvitam: accompanied with a water-pot (kalaśa)

• śukla: white

• mālya: garland

• ambara: garment/cloth

• dharam: wearing/bearing

• pañca-ratna-samanvitam: endowed with five gems (pañcaratna)

• bhakṣyaiḥ: with edible offerings/foods

• nānā-vidhaiḥ: of many kinds

• yuktam: provided/combined

• brāhmaṇāya: to a Brāhmaṇa

• nivedayet: should offer/present.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the dāna-dharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Vṛṣabha (bull)
• Udakumbha (water-pot/kalaśa)
• Pañcaratna (five gems)

Tags

• Dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Vṛṣabha-dāna
• Householder dharma
• Merit (puṇya)

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it belongs to dāna-dharma, prescribing the correct ritual form of a meritorious gift (vṛṣabha-dāna) to a Brāhmaṇa.

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

It outlines a householder/kingly duty of ritual charity: gifts should be offered with proper auspicious accessories (kalaśa, white adornments, gems, and food), emphasizing intentional, well-prepared giving to worthy recipients.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the prescribed dāna-upacāra: a golden bull as the main gift, accompanied by an udakumbha (kalaśa) and auspicious white adornments, plus pañcaratna and food—standard markers of completeness and sanctity in Purāṇic gifting.