Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Sun-Vow

Devanagari script

सुवर्णशृङ्गीं कपिलां महार्घ्यां रौप्यैः खुरैः कांस्यदोहां सवत्साम् पूर्णे गुडस्योपरि ताम्रपात्रे निधाय पद्मं पुरुषं च दद्यात् //

Transliteration

suvarṇaśṛṅgīṃ kapilāṃ mahārghyāṃ raupyaiḥ khuraiḥ kāṃsyadohāṃ savatsām pūrṇe guḍasyopari tāmrapātre nidhāya padmaṃ puruṣaṃ ca dadyāt //

Translation

One should gift a highly valuable tawny kapilā cow, fitted with golden horns and silver hooves, with a bronze milking-vessel, together with its calf. Having placed this gift in a copper vessel filled with jaggery, one should also give a lotus and a golden human figure.

Word by Word

• suvarṇa-śṛṅgīm: having golden horns

• kapilām: tawny (reddish-brown) cow

• mahārghyām: very precious/valuable

• raupyaiḥ khuraiḥ: with silver hooves

• kāṃsya-dohām: with a bronze milking-vessel (or milking pail)

• sa-vatsām: together with a calf

• pūrṇe: filled

• guḍasya: of jaggery

• upari: upon/over

• tāmra-pātre: in a copper vessel

• nidhāya: having placed/arranged

• padmam: a lotus

• puruṣam: a human figure (icon/effigy, commonly of gold in dāna context)

• ca: and

• dadyāt: should give (as a donation).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, as part of dāna-vidhi teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Kapilā (cow as a ritual gift)
• Padma (lotus)
• Puruṣa (human figure/effigy)

Tags

• Dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Merit (Puṇya)
• Householder duties
• Material offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a specific dāna (charitable gift) ritual, emphasizing merit gained through correctly arranged offerings.

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

It reflects the gṛhastha/royal duty of dāna: donating valuable items (a cow with specified adornments, plus symbolic gifts) in a ritually proper manner to accrue puṇya and uphold dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: precise materials (gold/silver/bronze/copper) and placement (in a copper vessel over jaggery) define the sanctioned procedure for an efficacious donation.