Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

एकापि गुरवे देया कपिला च पयस्विनी पर्वतानामशेषाणाम् एष एव विधिः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

ekāpi gurave deyā kapilā ca payasvinī parvatānāmaśeṣāṇām eṣa eva vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

Even a single kapilā (tawny) cow, rich in milk, should be given to one’s teacher; and for all the “mountain” offerings without exception, this alone is remembered as the proper rule of gifting.

Word by Word

• ekā api: even one (single)

• gurave: to the guru/teacher

• deyā: should be given

• kapilā: tawny/reddish-brown cow

• ca: and

• payasvinī: milk-yielding, rich in milk

• parvatānām: of mountains

• aśeṣāṇām: without remainder, all of them

• eṣaḥ eva: this alone/this indeed

• vidhiḥ: rule, prescribed procedure

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Kapilā (cow)

Tags

• Dāna
• Go-dāna
• Dharma
• Guru-sevā
• Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—specifically the prescribed gift of a milk-yielding kapilā cow to one’s guru as a meritorious rule.

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

It frames a core duty of the householder (and by extension a king as patron): honoring the guru through rightful giving. The verse emphasizes that even one proper gift—an auspicious, milk-yielding kapilā cow—fulfills the intended dharmic procedure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes go-dāna (cow-gift) to the guru, highlighting the correct “vidhi” (authorized procedure) and the auspicious qualifications of the donated cow (kapilā, payasvinī).