Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

गाश्च दद्याच्चतुर्विंशत् यथवा दश नारद नव सप्त तथाष्टौ वा पञ्च दद्याद् अशक्तिमान् //

Transliteration

gāśca dadyāccaturviṃśat yathavā daśa nārada nava sapta tathāṣṭau vā pañca dadyād aśaktimān //

Translation

One should donate cows—twenty-four; or else ten, O Nārada; or nine, seven, or eight; and if one lacks the means, one may give five.

Word by Word

• gāḥ: cows

• ca: and

• dadyāt: should give/donate

• caturviṃśat: twenty-four

• yathā vā: or else/as appropriate

• daśa: ten

• nārada: O Nārada

• nava: nine

• sapta: seven

• tathā: likewise

• aṣṭau: eight

• vā: or

• pañca: five

• dadyāt: should donate

• aśaktimān: one who is not capable/has limited means

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating a teaching addressed to Nārada within the Dāna-dharma context)

Entities Mentioned

• Nārada

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Householder Dharma
• Merit (Puṇya)
• Ritual Charity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma, prescribing graded cow-donations according to one’s capacity.

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

It sets a practical ethical standard for giving: a householder (and by extension a king as patron) should perform go-dāna in higher numbers when able, yet even a smaller gift (five cows) is sanctioned for those of limited means—emphasizing dharma through proportionate charity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is prescriptive: it specifies acceptable counts for go-dāna (cow-gift) as part of religious charity; it contains no Vāstu or temple-construction rule.