Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

मन्त्रतस्तु विशेषः स्यात् प्रासादाद्यानभूमिषु अयं त्वशक्तावर्धेन विधिर्दृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा अल्पेष्वेकाग्निवत्कृत्वा वित्तशाठ्यादृते नृणाम् //

Transliteration

mantratastu viśeṣaḥ syāt prāsādādyānabhūmiṣu ayaṃ tvaśaktāvardhena vidhirdṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā alpeṣvekāgnivatkṛtvā vittaśāṭhyādṛte nṛṇām //

Translation

கோவில், அரண்மனை முதலிய இடங்களுக்குரிய நிலங்களில் சிறப்பை அளிப்பது மந்திரங்களே. இந்த விதியை ஸ்வயம்பூ பிரம்மா குறைந்த திறன் உடையோருக்காக ஏற்படுத்தினார்; செல்வம் குறைந்தால், செல்வத்தில் வஞ்சகம் இன்றி, ஒரே அக்கினி முறையைப் போல இதைச் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• mantratas: by/through mantra

• tu: indeed/but

• viśeṣaḥ: special distinction/specificity

• syāt: should be/is to be

• prāsāda-ādi: temple, palace, etc.

• yāna-bhūmiṣu: on building/construction sites/grounds

• ayam: this

• tu: indeed

• aśakti-avardhena: by allowance for incapacity/limited ability

• vidhiḥ: rule/procedure

• dṛṣṭaḥ: seen/laid down/ordained

• svayambhuvā: by Svayambhū (Brahmā)

• alpeṣu: when (means) are small/insufficient

• ekāgni-vat: like the one-fire (eka-agni) rite

• kṛtvā: having done/performing

• vitta-śāṭhyāt: from fraud/deceit regarding wealth

• ṛte: without/except

• nṛṇām: of people/for men.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Svayambhu (Brahma)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple building
• Mantra vidhi
• Ritual concessions
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on Vastu/ritual procedure for construction sites, emphasizing mantra-specific rites and ethical conduct.

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

It instructs rulers and householders undertaking construction (temples, palaces, estates) to follow proper mantra-based rites, and—if resources are limited—to use an approved simplified procedure, provided they do not conceal wealth or act deceitfully.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It states that for prāsāda (temple) and related building grounds, the rite is defined by its mantras, and it permits a reduced ‘eka-agni’ style performance when means are small—explicitly disallowing cost-cutting through dishonest claims of poverty.