Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — Yayāti and the Kings’ Dialogue on Heavenly Worlds

Devanagari script

अलिप्समानस्य तु मे यदुक्तं न तत्तथास्तीह नरेन्द्रसिंह अस्य प्रदानस्य यदेव युक्तं तस्यैव चानन्तफलं भविष्यम् //

Transliteration

alipsamānasya tu me yaduktaṃ na tattathāstīha narendrasiṃha asya pradānasya yadeva yuktaṃ tasyaiva cānantaphalaṃ bhaviṣyam //

Translation

But what I said about one who gives without seeking anything in return does not apply here, O lion among kings. For this act of giving, whatever is truly appropriate and rightly fitted—of that alone will the reward be endless.

Word by Word

• alipsamānasya: of one who is not desiring (anything in return)

• tu: but/however

• me: by me/my

• yad uktaṃ: what was said

• na tat tathā asti iha: that is not so here / does not apply in this case

• narendra-siṃha: O lion among kings

• asya: of this

• pradānasya: of the gift/act of giving

• yad eva: whatever indeed/that which alone

• yuktaṃ: proper, fitting, in accordance (with rule and suitability)

• tasya eva: of that alone

• ca: and

• ananta-phalaṃ: endless fruit/reward

• bhaviṣyam: will be / will come to be.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in counsel to a king, addressing him as narendra-siṃha)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya

Tags

• Dāna-Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Intention in charity
• Merit (Puṇya)
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches Dāna-Dharma—how the spiritual “fruit” of giving depends on propriety and fitness rather than mere claim of selfless intent.

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

It instructs rulers (and by extension householders) that charity must be guided by dharmic suitability—right context, right recipient, and right manner—so that the merit becomes enduring.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building detail appears here; the ritual takeaway is that dāna is a regulated dharmic act where “yukta” (properly done) determines the magnitude of the result.