Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

इति पठति य इत्थं यः शृणोतीह सम्यङ् मधुमुरनरकारेर् अर्चनं यश्च पश्येत् मतिमाप च जनानां यो ददातीन्द्रलोके वसति स विबुधौघैः पूज्यते कल्पमेकम् //

Transliteration

iti paṭhati ya itthaṃ yaḥ śṛṇotīha samyaṅ madhumuranarakārer arcanaṃ yaśca paśyet matimāpa ca janānāṃ yo dadātīndraloke vasati sa vibudhaughaiḥ pūjyate kalpamekam //

Translation

Whoever recites this in such a manner; whoever here listens to it with full attention; whoever beholds the worship of the slayer of Madhu, Mura, and Naraka; and whoever also awakens understanding among people—such a one dwells in Indra’s world and is honored by hosts of gods for an entire kalpa.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• paṭhati: recites/reads

• yaḥ: whoever

• ittham: in this manner

• śṛṇoti iha: hears here (in this world)

• samyak: properly, attentively

• madhumura-narakāreḥ: of the destroyer of Madhu, Mura, and Naraka (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

• arcanam: worship, ritual honoring

• yaḥ ca: and whoever

• paśyet: may see/behold

• matim: understanding, right discernment

• āpa: causes to attain/obtains (gives rise to)

• janānām: of people

• yaḥ dadāti: who gives (bestows)

• indraloke: in the world of Indra (Svarga)

• vasati: dwells

• saḥ: he

• vibudha-oghaiḥ: by multitudes/hosts of gods

• pūjyate: is revered/honored

• kalpam ekam: for one kalpa.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) conveying the phala-śruti; framed within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Madhusūdana (Vishnu/Krishna)
• Mura
• Naraka
• Indra
• Vibudhas (gods)

Tags

• Phala-śruti
• Viṣṇu-arcana
• Hearing & recitation
• Darśana (seeing worship)
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; instead, it gives a phala-śruti, promising heavenly residence and divine honor as the fruit of recitation, attentive hearing, and witnessing Viṣṇu’s worship.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of sustaining dharma through śravaṇa (hearing), pāṭha (recitation), and encouraging right understanding among people—portrayed here as meritorious acts leading to exalted posthumous reward.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual emphasis is on arcana (formal worship) and darśana (beholding the worship). The verse highlights that correct performance and even witnessing of Viṣṇu-pūjā, along with teaching others, yields great spiritual merit.