Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — The Rohiṇī–Candraśayana Vow

Devanagari script

श्वेतामथ सुवर्णास्यां खुरै रौप्यैः समन्विताम् सवस्त्रभाजनां धेनुं तथा शङ्खं च शोभनम् //

Transliteration

śvetāmatha suvarṇāsyāṃ khurai raupyaiḥ samanvitām savastrabhājanāṃ dhenuṃ tathā śaṅkhaṃ ca śobhanam //

Translation

Then one should offer a white cow, with a golden face and hooves adorned with silver, together with cloth and a suitable vessel; and also a beautiful conch-shell (śaṅkha).

Word by Word

• śvetām: a white (cow)

• atha: then

• suvarṇāsyām: having a golden face/muzzle

• khuraiḥ: with hooves

• raupyaiḥ: made of silver/silvery

• samanvitām: endowed/adorned with

• savastra-bhājanām: together with cloth and a vessel (for offerings/milking)

• dhenuṃ: a milch-cow

• tathā: and also

• śaṅkham: conch-shell

• ca: and

• śobhanam: splendid/beautiful/auspicious

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s dāna-vidhi instructions, traditionally in dialogue lineage ultimately attributed to Lord Matsya’s teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Dhenu (cow as a gift)
• Shankha (conch)

Tags

• Dana
• Ritual Gifts
• Auspicious Items
• Householder Dharma
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it focuses on dharma through ritual charity (dāna), prescribing auspicious forms of gifts to generate merit.

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

It reflects the householder/royal duty of dāna: donating a properly adorned cow and auspicious objects (like a conch) as part of ethical living, ritual responsibility, and accruing puṇya.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: specifying purity and auspicious materials (white cow, gold, silver, cloth, vessel, conch) that are suitable for formal donations and sacrificial/temple-related observances.