Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

उत्तमः षोडशद्रोणैः कर्तव्यो लवणाचलः मध्यमः स्यात्तदर्धेन चतुर्भिरधमः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

uttamaḥ ṣoḍaśadroṇaiḥ kartavyo lavaṇācalaḥ madhyamaḥ syāttadardhena caturbhiradhamaḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

A salt-mound (Lavaṇācala) of the best grade should be made with sixteen droṇas; the middling grade is made with half of that; and the inferior grade is traditionally stated to be made with four (droṇas).

Word by Word

• uttamaḥ: of the best (grade)

• ṣoḍaśa-droṇaiḥ: with sixteen droṇas (a grain/volume measure)

• kartavyaḥ: should be made/prepared

• lavaṇa-acalaḥ: a mound/heap of salt (lit. ‘salt-mountain’)

• madhyamaḥ: the middling (grade)

• syāt: should be/is

• tad-ardhena: with half of that (quantity)

• caturbhiḥ: with four

• adhamaḥ: inferior/lowest (grade)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/traditionally stated

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Droṇa (measure)
• Lavaṇa (salt)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Measurements
• Construction
• Ritual Materials
• Standards

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is technical and prescriptive, giving graded quantities for preparing a salt-heap using the droṇa measure, typical of Vastu/ritual procedural sections rather than Pralaya narration.

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

It reflects the duty to follow śāstric standards in public works, temple maintenance, and household/royal rituals—ensuring correct, graded provisioning of materials (here, salt) according to prescribed measures.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies a Vastu/ritual standard for preparing a ‘lavaṇācala’ (salt mound/heap) in three grades (uttama, madhyama, adhama) using fixed droṇa quantities, emphasizing precision in construction/rite-related material preparation.