Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Rite of Donating the ‘Mountain of Ghee’

Devanagari script

विंशत्या घृतकुम्भानाम् उत्तमः स्याद्घृताचलः दशभिर्मध्यमः प्रोक्तः पञ्चभिस्त्वधमः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

viṃśatyā ghṛtakumbhānām uttamaḥ syādghṛtācalaḥ daśabhirmadhyamaḥ proktaḥ pañcabhistvadhamaḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

A ‘mountain of ghee’ (ghṛtācala) is considered the best when it consists of twenty pots of ghee; with ten it is declared to be of middling grade; and with five it is remembered as the lowest grade.

Word by Word

• viṃśatyā: by twenty

• ghṛta-kumbhānām: of pots filled with ghee

• uttamaḥ: the highest/best

• syāt: would be/is

• ghṛtācalaḥ: ‘ghee-mountain’ (a large ghee-offering/donation arrangement)

• daśabhiḥ: by ten

• madhyamaḥ: middling/medium

• proktaḥ: said/declared

• pañcabhiḥ: by five

• tu: but/indeed

• adhamaḥ: lowest/inferior

• smṛtaḥ: remembered/recorded in tradition.

Speaker

• Suta (narrating Matsya Purana’s dharma/ritual guidelines; framed as instruction ultimately attributed to Lord Matsya’s teaching tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Ghrita (clarified butter)
• Ghṛtācala (ghee-mountain offering)

Tags

• Dana
• Ritual
• Dharma
• Merit
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it classifies ritual charity (dāna), specifically the graded scale of a ghṛtācala (ghee-offering) by the number of ghee pots.

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

It guides householders and patrons (including kings) on how to perform dāna with clear standards—twenty ghee pots being the highest form—supporting dharma through structured, measurable generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is prescriptive: it defines the correct quantitative grades for arranging a ghṛtācala offering—20 pots (best), 10 (medium), 5 (lowest)—useful for planning formal ceremonies and donations.