Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

अन्यानपि यथाशक्त्या भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् तर्पयेद् वस्त्रगोदानै रत्नौघधनसंचयैः अल्पवित्तो यथाशक्त्या स्तोकं स्तोकं समाचरेत् //

Transliteration

anyānapi yathāśaktyā bhojayitvā dvijottamān tarpayed vastragodānai ratnaughadhanasaṃcayaiḥ alpavitto yathāśaktyā stokaṃ stokaṃ samācaret //

Translation

Having, according to one’s capacity, fed other foremost twice-born (brāhmaṇas) as well, one should satisfy them with gifts—such as garments and cows, or with stores of wealth and heaps of jewels. But a person of limited means should, according to his ability, practice giving little by little.

Word by Word

• anyān api: others also

• yathā-śaktyā: according to one’s capacity

• bhojayitvā: having fed

• dvija-uttamān: the best among the twice-born (excellent brāhmaṇas)

• tarpayet: should satisfy/please (with offerings)

• vastra: garments

• go-dānaiḥ: by gifts of cows

• ratna-ogha: heaps/streams of jewels

• dhana-saṃcayaiḥ: with accumulated wealth/stores of riches

• alpa-vittaḥ: one of small means

• stokaṃ stokaṃ: little by little

• samācaret: should practice/perform (regularly).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the Matsya Purana’s didactic dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Dvijottamas (Brāhmaṇas)

Tags

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Brāhmaṇa-bhojana
• Gṛhastha-duties

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches dharma—how one should honor and satisfy brāhmaṇas through feeding and appropriate gifts, even in small amounts if one is poor.

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

It frames a core gṛhastha (and also royal) duty: hospitality and dāna. One should feed qualified brāhmaṇas and give gifts suited to one’s means—lavishly if wealthy, and steadily “little by little” if resources are limited.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual emphasis is on brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dāna as a supporting limb of śrāddha-like observances; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.