Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

अदामहं पृथिवीं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः पूर्णामिमामखिलान्नैः प्रशस्ताम् गोभिः सुवर्णैश्च धनैश्च मुख्यैर् अश्वाः सनागाः शतशस्त्वर्बुदानि //

Transliteration

adāmahaṃ pṛthivīṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pūrṇāmimāmakhilānnaiḥ praśastām gobhiḥ suvarṇaiśca dhanaiśca mukhyair aśvāḥ sanāgāḥ śataśastvarbudāni //

Translation

“I gave this entire earth to the Brāhmaṇas—this land made complete and commendable, filled with every kind of food; along with cows, gold, and the finest forms of wealth—horses and even elephants, in hundreds and in tens of millions.”

Word by Word

• adāmaham: I gave

• pṛthivīm: the earth/land

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the Brāhmaṇas

• pūrṇām: complete, fully endowed

• imām: this

• akhila-annaiḥ: with all kinds of food/grain provisions

• praśastām: praised, excellent, commendable

• gobhiḥ: with cows

• suvarṇaiḥ: with gold

• ca: and

• dhanaiḥ: with wealth/treasures

• ca: and

• mukhyaiḥ: principal, best, foremost

• aśvāḥ: horses

• sa-nāgāḥ: together with elephants

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds, in hundreds

• tu: indeed

• arbudāni: arbuda-units (ten million each), tens of millions

Speaker

• Likely Vaivasvata Manu (in a merit-account / exemplary royal-giving context within Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇas
• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Cows (Go)
• Gold (Suvarṇa)
• Horses (Aśva)
• Elephants (Nāga)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dana
• Mahadana
• Brāhmaṇa-support
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it emphasizes dharma through mahādāna (great gifts), presenting charity as a source of religious merit rather than a cosmological event.

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

It portrays the ideal of royal/householder generosity: supporting Brāhmaṇas and society through large-scale giving—land, food supplies, cattle, gold, and valuable assets—framed as exemplary dharmic conduct (rājadharma and gṛhastha-dharma).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it reflects the concept of dāna as a formal religious act (often tied to yajña/merit-making). Architecturally, no specific Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.