Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

धेनुवत्सौ घृतास्यौ च सितसूक्ष्माम्बरावृतौ शुक्तिकर्णाविक्षुपादौ शुचिमुक्ताफलेक्षणौ //

Transliteration

dhenuvatsau ghṛtāsyau ca sitasūkṣmāmbarāvṛtau śuktikarṇāvikṣupādau śucimuktāphalekṣaṇau //

Translation

Both are to be like a cow with her calf; their mouths are as though anointed with ghee; they are covered in fine white garments; their ears are like mother-of-pearl shells; their feet like sugarcane; and their eyes resemble pure pearls, or fruits with a pearly lustre.

Word by Word

• dhenū-vatsau: like a cow and her calf (a paired, auspicious likeness)

• ghṛta-āsyau: having mouths (faces) like ghee, i.e., glossy, smooth, well-anointed in appearance

• ca: and

• sita-sūkṣma-ambara-āvṛtau: covered/clad in fine (subtle) white garments

• śukti-karṇau: having ears like śukti (mother-of-pearl/oyster-shell), i.e., bright, shell-like

• ikṣu-pādau: having feet like ikṣu (sugarcane), i.e., straight, smooth, well-formed

• śuci-muktā-phala-īkṣaṇau: having eyes like pure pearls (muktā) / pearl-like fruits, i.e., clear, bright, auspicious-eyed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu in descriptive/iconographic criteria)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Auspicious Marks
• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Images

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on auspicious visual characteristics (lakṣaṇas) used for describing or assessing sacred figures/images.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma by guiding patrons (kings/householders) in commissioning or venerating properly characterized sacred forms—ensuring worship is aligned with śāstric norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

These are pratima-lakṣaṇa style descriptors—used in ritual/temple contexts to define auspicious features for sacred representations and to avoid inauspicious or non-śāstric forms in installation and worship.