Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

स्नात्वाथ गुरवे दद्यान् मध्यमं पर्वतोत्तमम् विष्कम्भपर्वतान्दद्याद् ऋत्विग्भ्यः क्रमशो मुने //

Transliteration

snātvātha gurave dadyān madhyamaṃ parvatottamam viṣkambhaparvatāndadyād ṛtvigbhyaḥ kramaśo mune //

Translation

After bathing, one should present to the guru the “middle” portion of the excellent Parvata-offering; and then, O sage, one should give the Viṣkambha-parvatas to the officiating priests (ṛtvij) in due order.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed

• atha: then/thereafter

• gurave: to the guru (spiritual preceptor)

• dadyāt: should give

• madhyamam: the middle (measure/grade)

• parvata-uttamam: the best/excellent ‘parvata’ (mountain-shaped offering, i.e., a ritual heap/model given as dāna)

• viṣkambha-parvatān: the ‘viṣkambha’ parvatas (supporting/associated mountain-offerings, likely subsidiary heaps/models)

• dadyāt: should give

• ṛtvigbhyaḥ: to the ṛtviks (officiating priests)

• kramaśaḥ: क्रमशः, in proper sequence

• mune: O sage.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, mediated through the Purāṇic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Ṛtvij (officiating priests)

Tags

• Dāna
• Ritual Procedure
• Guru
• Priestly Fees (Dakṣiṇā)
• Matsya Purana Rituals

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on ritual propriety—bathing and then distributing prescribed gifts (parvata-type offerings) to the guru and the officiating priests in a defined order.

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

It reflects the dharmic duty of a yajamāna (householder/king performing rites) to honor the guru and compensate ṛtviks with appropriate dakṣiṇā, emphasizing purity (snāna), hierarchy (guru first), and orderly distribution (kramaśaḥ).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual detail is ‘parvata’ offerings—mountain-shaped models/heaps given as dāna—assigned by grade (“madhyama”) and type (“viṣkambha”), and distributed to guru and priests according to sequence, aligning with formal śrauta/smārta gift-protocols.