Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

गोभूहिरण्यवासांसि भव्यानि शयनानि च दद्याद्यदिष्टं विप्राणाम् आत्मनः पितुरेव च //

Transliteration

gobhūhiraṇyavāsāṃsi bhavyāni śayanāni ca dadyādyadiṣṭaṃ viprāṇām ātmanaḥ pitureva ca //

Translation

विप्रांना गाय, भूमी, सुवर्ण, वस्त्रे आणि उत्तम शय्या इत्यादी—जे त्यांना अभिष्ट असेल ते—दान करावे; हे स्वतःच्या व पित्याच्या हितासाठी आहे।

Word by Word

• go: cows

• bhū: land/earth

• hiraṇya: gold/treasure

• vāsāṃsi: garments/clothes

• bhavyāni: excellent/auspicious/fine

• śayanāni: beds/couches

• ca: and

• dadyāt: one should give

• yadiṣṭam: whatever is desired/asked for

• viprāṇām: of/for Brahmins

• ātmanaḥ: for oneself/one’s own

• pituḥ: of the father

• eva: indeed/also

• ca: and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Pitṛ (father/ancestors)

Tags

• Dana
• Dharma
• Pitṛ-kārya
• Householder
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on dharma through charitable giving (dāna) and the merit it generates.

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

It prescribes high-value gifts—cows, land, gold, clothing, and bedding—to worthy Brahmins, framing dāna as a core duty that supports social-religious order and brings benefit to the giver and their lineage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is that properly directed dāna (especially to vipras) is presented as a meritorious act linked to personal welfare and pitṛ-related benefit.