Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — The Rite and Glory of Meru-Dāna: The Tenfold ‘Gift of Meru’ and Mountain-Offe...

Devanagari script

संस्थाप्य तं विपुलशैलमथोत्तरेण शैलं सुपार्श्वमपि माषमयं सुवस्त्रम् पुष्पैश्च हेमवटपादपशेखरं तम् आकारयेत् कनकधेनुविराजमानम् //

Transliteration

saṃsthāpya taṃ vipulaśailamathottareṇa śailaṃ supārśvamapi māṣamayaṃ suvastram puṣpaiśca hemavaṭapādapaśekharaṃ tam ākārayet kanakadhenuvirājamānam //

Translation

Having installed that great stone as a seat, one should then place to its north another stone as a well-proportioned side-support, together with fine cloth and an offering of black gram. Adorn it with flowers and a golden ornament at the feet, and fashion it so that it shines like a golden cow.

Word by Word

• saṃsthāpya: having स्थापित/installed

• tam: that

• vipula-śailam: large stone / massive rock-form

• atha: then

• uttareṇa: to the north (on the northern side)

• śailam: stone / rock

• su-pārśvam: well-proportioned side/support, having good flanks

• api: also

• māṣa-mayam: made of māṣa (black gram), i.e., a māṣa-offering

• su-vastram: fine cloth / auspicious garment

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers

• ca: and

• hema: gold / golden

• vaṭa-pāda-paśekharam: a golden ornament/crest placed at the feet (foot-adornment)

• ākārayet: should fashion/arrange/construct

• kanaka-dhenu-virājamānam: shining like a golden cow (symbol of auspiciousness and donation).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, Vastu/ritual guidance context)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Dhenu (cow symbolism)
• Vastuvidya (ritual placement)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual Installation
• North Direction (Uttara)
• Auspicious Offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ritual/architectural arrangement—northward placement, offerings, and auspicious adornment—typical of Vastu and consecration instructions.

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

It reflects the grihastha/kingly duty of performing correct rites—placing items in prescribed directions, offering food-substances and cloth, and honoring auspicious symbols (like the dhenu) to support dharma, prosperity, and public religious works.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies directional placement (uttara/north), the use of a stone element with side-support, and consecration-style adornments (cloth, flowers, māṣa-offering), culminating in an auspicious “golden cow” radiance—key cues in Matsya Purana Vastu/ritual procedure.