Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

वित्तहीनो यथाशक्त्या द्रोणादूर्ध्वं तु कारयेत् चतुर्थांशेन विष्कम्भपर्वतान्कारयेत्पृथक् //

Transliteration

vittahīno yathāśaktyā droṇādūrdhvaṃ tu kārayet caturthāṃśena viṣkambhaparvatānkārayetpṛthak //

Translation

If one is short of resources, one should build it according to one’s ability, beginning from the standard measure of one droṇa and upward; and the transverse spans and the projecting, “mountain-like” members should be made separately at one-fourth of the main measure.

Word by Word

• vittahīnaḥ: one lacking wealth/means

• yathāśaktyā: according to one’s capacity

• droṇāt: from (the measure of) a droṇa

• ūrdhvam: upwards/greater than that

• tu: indeed

• kārayet: should cause to be made/construct

• caturtha-aṃśena: by one fourth part

• viṣkambha: transverse span/width-support (cross-member)

• parvatān: ‘mountain-like’ projections/elevations (architectural members)

• pṛthak: separately/distinctly

• kārayet: should have made.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Measurements
• Temple Architecture
• Construction Proportions
• Ritual Economy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a Vastuvidya rule about adjusting construction dimensions to one’s means and maintaining proportional sub-elements.

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

It frames building as a dharmic act governed by practicality: a patron (king or householder) should commission construction within available resources while still following prescribed proportional standards.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a measurement principle: begin from a baseline unit (droṇa) and scale upward, while making cross-spans (viṣkambha) and projecting members (parvata) as distinct components set at one-quarter proportion.