Matsya Purana — Code of Conduct and Vow-Procedure for Courtesans, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

देवतानां पितॄणां च पुण्याहे समुपस्थिते गोभूहिरण्यधान्यानि प्रदेयानि स्वशक्तितः ब्राह्मणानां वरारोहाः कार्याणि वचनानि च //

Transliteration

devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca puṇyāhe samupasthite gobhūhiraṇyadhānyāni pradeyāni svaśaktitaḥ brāhmaṇānāṃ varārohāḥ kāryāṇi vacanāni ca //

Translation

Khi đến ngày cát tường dành cho nghi lễ đối với chư thiên và tổ tiên, người ta nên tùy theo khả năng mà bố thí bò, đất, vàng và ngũ cốc; và, hỡi phu nhân cao quý, cũng nên thực hiện các thỉnh cầu và lời chỉ dạy của các Bà-la-môn.

Word by Word

• devatānām: of the gods

• pitṝṇām: of the ancestors (manes)

• ca: and

• puṇyāhe: on an auspicious day/at the auspicious rite (puṇyāha)

• samupasthite: when it has arrived/present

• go: cows

• bhū: land

• hiraṇya: gold

• dhānyāni: grains/cereals

• pradeyāni: are to be given/should be donated

• svaśaktitaḥ: according to one’s own ability

• brāhmaṇānām: of/for the Brāhmaṇas

• varārohāḥ: O noble lady (vocative)

• kāryāṇi: should be done/fulfilled

• vacanāni: words, requests, injunctions

• ca: and.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu; vocative addressed as “varārohāḥ” indicates the instruction is framed to a noble listener in the discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Pitṛs
• Brāhmaṇas

Tags

• Dāna
• Śrāddha
• Pitṛ-yajña
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Puṇyāha

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on dharma in ritual time—how one should perform donations and honor Devas and Pitṛs on auspicious occasions.

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

It prescribes gṛhastha/royal responsibility: on puṇya-kālas one should donate key forms of wealth (cows, land, gold, grain) proportionate to capacity and respect Brāhmaṇical guidance—supporting social-religious order through dāna and ritual duty.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is puṇyāha and Deva–Pitṛ observance: the verse highlights timely dāna and compliance with Brāhmaṇa prescriptions as integral to rites like Śrāddha and auspicious-day ceremonies, rather than Vāstu or temple construction.