Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

एवमामन्त्र्य तां धेनुं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् विधानमेतद्धेनूनां सर्वासाम् अभिपठ्यते //

Transliteration

evamāmantrya tāṃ dhenuṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet vidhānametaddhenūnāṃ sarvāsām abhipaṭhyate //

Translation

Having thus addressed and ritually invited that cow, one should formally present her to a brāhmaṇa. This is the prescribed procedure for offering all kinds of cows, as it is recited in the tradition.

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• āmantrya: having addressed/invited (with ritual words)

• tāṃ: that

• dhenuṃ: cow

• brāhmaṇāya: to a brāhmaṇa

• nivedayet: should present/offer formally

• vidhānam: rule, procedure, injunction

• etat: this

• dhenūnām: of cows

• sarvāsām: of all (types)

• abhipaṭhyate: is recited/authoritatively taught

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Dhenu (cow)

Tags

• Dāna
• Dharmashastra
• Ritual procedure
• Cow donation
• Householder duties

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on dāna-dharma—how to ritually complete the gift of a cow by addressing/inviting her and then formally offering her to a brāhmaṇa.

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

It frames charitable giving as a regulated duty: the donor should not merely give materially, but complete the gift through proper ritual formality (āmantraṇa and nivedana), aligning household/royal charity with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is procedural: the cow is to be ceremonially addressed and then formally presented, indicating that dhenu-dāna follows a standardized rite applicable to all types of cows.