Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — The Nakṣatra-Puruṣa Vrata: Worship of Viṣṇu’s Cosmic Body through the Lunar M...

Devanagari script

सलक्ष्मीकं सभार्याय काञ्चनं पुरुषोत्तमम् शय्यां च दद्यान्मन्त्रेण ग्रन्थिभेदविवर्जिताम् //

Transliteration

salakṣmīkaṃ sabhāryāya kāñcanaṃ puruṣottamam śayyāṃ ca dadyānmantreṇa granthibhedavivarjitām //

Translation

With the proper mantra, he should donate a golden image of Puruṣottama together with Lakṣmī, and also present a bed (śayyā) to a married couple—one free from knots, seams, or defects caused by binding and joining.

Word by Word

• sa-lakṣmīkam: together with Lakṣmī

• sa-bhāryāya: to one who has a wife / to a married (householder)

• kāñcanam: made of gold

• puruṣottamam: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person, Viṣṇu)

• śayyām: a bed, couch

• ca: and

• dadyāt: should give (as a gift)

• mantreṇa: with a mantra / with ritual recitation

• granthi: knot, binding, fastening

• bheda: break, split, defect, discontinuity

• vivarjitām: devoid of, free from

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s dāna prescriptions, traditionally in the Manu–Matsya transmission)

Entities Mentioned

• Puruṣottama (Viṣṇu)
• Lakṣmī

Tags

• Dāna
• Ritual gifting
• Householder dharma
• Viṣṇu worship
• Merit (puṇya)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—ritually gifting sacred objects (a Viṣṇu–Lakṣmī image and a bed) to generate religious merit.

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

It frames charitable giving as a householder duty: donating an image of Puruṣottama with Lakṣmī and offering śayyā-dāna to a married recipient couple, performed properly with mantra and with items of sound, defect-free quality.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is mantra-based gifting and the requirement that the donated bed be “granthibheda-vivarjita”—free from knots/joints/defects—emphasizing purity, integrity of materials, and correctness of the donated article.