Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

रौप्यखुरीं हेमशृङ्गीं सवत्सां कांस्यदोहनाम् दद्यान्मन्त्रेण पूर्वाह्णे न चैनामभिलङ्घयेत् //

Transliteration

raupyakhurīṃ hemaśṛṅgīṃ savatsāṃ kāṃsyadohanām dadyānmantreṇa pūrvāhṇe na caināmabhilaṅghayet //

Translation

In the forenoon, with the proper mantra, one should gift a cow whose hooves are adorned as with silver and whose horns are adorned as with gold, together with her calf and a bronze milking vessel; and one should not transgress against her or violate the prescribed observance.

Word by Word

• रौप्य-खुरीम् (raupya-khurīm): having silver (adorned) hooves

• हेम-शृङ्गीम् (hema-śṛṅgīm): having gold (adorned) horns

• सवत्साम् (savatsām): together with a calf

• कांस्य-दोहनाम् (kāṃsya-dohanām): with a bronze milking-pail / milking vessel

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): one should give (as a gift)

• मन्त्रेण (mantreṇa): with a mantra / accompanied by ritual recitation

• पूर्वाह्णे (pūrvāhṇe): in the forenoon

• न (na): not

• च (ca): and

• एनाम् (enām): her/that (cow)

• अभिलङ्घयेत् (abhilaṅghayet): should overstep, violate, transgress, or treat improperly

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic discourse on dharma and dāna)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Cow (Go)

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Householder dharma
• Mantra

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of ritual gifting (go-dāna) and the proper manner and timing of the donation.

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

It gives a clear householder/royal duty: perform charitable gifting with correct ritual form—offer a properly adorned cow with her calf and necessary implements, recite mantra, choose an auspicious time (forenoon), and avoid any act that violates the sanctity of the gift.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it specifies pūrvāhṇa timing, mantra-recitation, and complete gifting (cow + calf + bronze milking vessel), along with a rule of non-transgression/disrespect toward the donated cow.