Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

*मनुरुवाच गुडधेनुविधानं मे समाचक्ष्व जगत्पते किंरूपं केन मन्त्रेण दातव्यं तदिहोच्यताम् //

Transliteration

*manuruvāca guḍadhenuvidhānaṃ me samācakṣva jagatpate kiṃrūpaṃ kena mantreṇa dātavyaṃ tadihocyatām //

Translation

Manu said: “O Lord of the world, explain to me the proper procedure for the gift of the ‘guḍa-dhenu’—the jaggery-cow: what form it should take, and with which mantra it is to be bestowed. Let it be stated here.”

Word by Word

• manuḥ uvāca: Manu said

• guḍa-dhenu-vidhānam: the prescribed method/rite of the jaggery-cow donation

• me: to me

• samācakṣva: explain fully, instruct

• jagat-pate: O Lord of the world

• kim-rūpam: of what form/shape, of what specification

• kena mantreṇa: with which mantra

• dātavyam: is to be given, should be donated

• tat: that

• iha: here (in this context)

• ucyatām: let it be told/declared.

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Jagatpati (Lord of the world, i.e., Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Tags

• Dāna
• Dharma
• Ritual procedure
• Mantra
• Guḍa-dhenu

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it shows the post-crisis dharmic order where Manu seeks precise ritual guidance, emphasizing that cosmic stability is maintained through correctly performed dharma such as prescribed donations.

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

It frames dāna (charitable gifting) as a regulated duty: a householder or ruler should give in the proper form and with proper mantras, indicating that intention must be supported by correct ritual method in Matsya Purana’s ethical-ritual teachings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual-technical: Manu asks for the exact ‘vidhāna’ (specification) and the mantra for offering the guḍa-dhenu, signaling a standardized procedure for constructing/arranging the donation object and consecrating it through mantra.