Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

यास्ताः पापविनाशिन्यः पठ्यन्ते दश धेनवः तासां स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि नामानि च नराधिप //

Transliteration

yāstāḥ pāpavināśinyaḥ paṭhyante daśa dhenavaḥ tāsāṃ svarūpaṃ vakṣyāmi nāmāni ca narādhipa //

Translation

O king, those ten “cows” that are recited as destroyers of sin—I shall now describe their distinctive forms and also their names.

Word by Word

• yāḥ tāḥ: those which

• pāpa-vināśinyaḥ: sin-destroying (removers of demerit)

• paṭhyante: are recited/mentioned in tradition

• daśa: ten

• dhenavaḥ: cows (or ‘dhenus’ as sacred named forms)

• tāsām: of them

• svarūpam: form, characteristic nature

• vakṣyāmi: I will declare/explain

• nāmāni: names

• ca: and

• nara-adhipa: O lord of men, O king

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (the king)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Prāyaścitta
• Dāna
• Dharma
• Sin-removal
• Sacred recitation

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it introduces a dharma/prāyaścitta topic—ten sacred ‘dhenus’ whose recitation is said to destroy sin.

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

By addressing the king directly, the text frames purification as a royal and household responsibility: learning, reciting, and applying sanctioned prāyaścitta teachings to uphold dharma in oneself and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it signals an upcoming prescription: the names and defining features of ten sin-destroying ‘dhenus’ intended for recitation/ritual remembrance as part of purification practice.