Matsya Purana 274: adhyāyaḥ 274

274.1

ṣor̤aśamahādānānāṃvarṇanam.

The Risis said—"Sûta! one should acquire increase and protect wealth by fair means The acquirement of wealth by a virtuous person has been said to be most lucky in all the Śâstras—1

274.2

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ.
nyāyenārjanamarthānāṃ varddhanañcābhirakṣaṇam.
satpātrapratipattiśca sarvaśāstreṣu paṭhyate .. 274.1

274.3

kṛtakṛtyo bhavet kena manasvī dhanavān budhaḥ.
mahādānena dattena tanno vistarato vada .. 274.2

Be good enough to tell by what charity a wealthy and learned man feels blessed'—2

274.4

sūta uvāca.
athātaḥ sampravakṣyāmi mahādānānukīrtanam.
dānadharme'pi yannoktaṃ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā .. 274.3

Sûta Said—'I shall now explain to you about that great charity, (Mahâ Dân) which has been mentioned to us by Lord Viṣṇu in connection with the enunciation of the righteous ordinances It has been kept so secret It is the dispeller of all the ills and the effects of bad dreams"—3-4

274.5

tadahaṃ samprakṣyāmi mahādānamanuttamam.
sarvapāpakṣayakaraṃ nṛṇāṃ duḥsvapna nāśanam .. 274.4

274.6

yattat ṣor̤aśadā proktaṃ vāsudevena bhūtale.
puṇyaṃ pavitramāyuṣyaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham .. 274.5

The Mahâ Danas are of sixteen varieties Among the sixteen kinds of Mahâ Dâns described by the Lord, the Tulâ Puruṣa Dâna is the first and best of all It is the giver of virtue, long life, dispeller of all ills, venerated by Lords Brahmâ, Viṣṇu and Śiva and other Devas—5-6

274.7

pūjitaṃ devatābhiśca brahmaviṣṇu śivādibhiḥ.
ādyantu sarvadānānāṃ tulā puruṣasaṃjñakam .. 274.6

274.8

hiraṇyagarbhadānañca brahmāṇḍaṃ tadanantaram.
kalpapādapadānañca gosahasrañca pañcamam .. 274.7

The other Danas are—Hiraṇyagarbha Dana, Brahmāṇḍa Dâna, Kalpapâdapa Dana, Gosahasraka Dâna Hiraṇyakâmadheenu Dâna Hiraṇyāśva Dâna Hiraṇyāśvaratha Dâna, Hemahastiratha Dâna, Panchalāṅgala Dana, Dhârâ Dâna, Viṣvachakra Dâna, Kalpalatâ Dana, Saptasâgaraka Dâna, Ratnadhenu Dâna, Mahabhûtaghaṭa Dana which were first observed by Bhagavân Vâsudeva, the Destroyer of Sambara, by Ambarî a Bhargava, Sahasravâhu, Prahlâda, Pṛthu, Bharata and other kings These Dânas are always performed for the removal of all obstacles, and as a result of these they were all protected by the Devas—7 12

274.9

hiraṇyakāmadhenuśca hiraṇyāśvastathaiva ca.
hiraṇyāśvarathastadvat hemahastirathastathā .. 274.8

274.10

pañcalāṅgalakaṃ tadvad dharādānaṃ tathaiva ca.
dvādaśaṃ viśvacakrantu tataḥ kalpalatātmakam .. 274.9

274.11

saptasāgaradānañca ratnadhenustathaiva ca.
mahābhūtaghaṭastadvat ṣor̤aśaṃ parikīrtitam.. 274.10

274.12

sarvāṇyetāni kṛtavān purā śamvarasūdanaḥ.
vāsudevastu bhagavān ambarīṣo'tha bhārgavaḥ .. 274.11

274.13

kārtavīryyārjuno nāma prahlādaḥ pṛthureva ca.
kuryuranye mahīpālāḥ kecicca bharatādayaḥ .. 274.12

274.14

yasmādvighnasahasreṇa mahādānāni sarvadā.
rakṣante devatāḥ sarvā ekaikamapi bhūtale .. 274.13

The Devas ward these observers of ordinances from all ills—13

274.15

eṣāmanyatamaṃ kuryyādvāsudeva prasādataḥ.
na śakyamanyathā kartumapi śakreṇa bhūtale .. 274.14

If one of these Dânas be accomplished without any obstacles through the favour of Lord Viṣṇu then Indra was not able to do any injury to the devotee—14

274.16

tasmādārādhya govindamumāpativināyakau.
mahādānamukhaṃ kuryyādvipraiścaivānumoditaḥ .. 274.15

So a devotee should adore Lords Viṣṇu, Śiva and Gaṇeśa and then with the advice of the Brâhmaṇas should commence the performance of sacrifices pertaining to these Mahâ Danas—15

274.17

etadevāha manave paripṛṣṭo janārdanaḥ.
yathāvadanuvakṣyāmi śrṛṇudhvamṛṣisattamāḥ! .. 274.16

'King Manu had put the following question to the Lord Janârdana, which I heard and now shall try to make clear according to my understanding Please listen to it—16 flowers, etc , should be strewn there, and above the beam of the scales a canopy of five colours should be erected. Afterwards those versed in the Vedas, handsome in appearance, of nice disposition, knowing all the rituals, born in the Bhāratavarṣa, should be made the priests, and the man accomplished in the Vedānta, born in an Aryan family, knowing Purāṇas, of cheerful disposition, wearing white clothes, earrings, a golden girdle, armlets and other ornaments, should be made the Preceptor (Guru)—33-38

274.18

manuruvāca.
mahādānāni yānīha pavitrāṇi śubhāni ca.
rahasyāni pradeyāni tāni me kathayācyuta .. 274.17

274.19

matsya uvāca.
yāni noktāni guhyāni mahādānāni ṣor̤aśa.
tāni te kathayiṣyāmi yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ .. 274.18

274.20

tulāpuruṣa yāgo'yaṃ yeṣāmādau vidhīyate.
ayane viṣuve puṇye vyatīpāte dinakṣaye .. 274.19

274.21

yugādiṣu parāgeṣu tathā manvantarādiṣu.
saṅkrāntau tau vaidhṛtidine caturdaśyaṣṭamīṣu ca .. 274.20

274.22

sitapañcadaśīparva dvādaśīṣvaṣṭakāsu ca.
yajñotsavavivāheṣu duḥsvapnādbhutadarśane .. 274.21

274.23

dravyabrāhmaṇalābhe vā śraddhā vā yatra jāyate.
tīrthe vāyatane goṣṭhe kūpārāmasaritsu ca .. 274.22

274.24

gṛhe vāyatane vāpi taḍāge rucire tathā.
mahādānāni deyāni saṃsārabhayabhīruṇā .. 274.23

274.25

anityaṃ jīvitaṃ yasmāt vasucātīva cañcalam.
keśeṣvevagṛhītaḥ san mṛtyunādharmamācaret .. 274.24

274.26

puṇyāṃ tithimathāsādya kṛtvā brāhmaṇavācanam.
ṣor̤aśāratnimātrantu daśadvādaśavākarān .. 274.25

274.27

maṇḍapaṃ kārayedvidvān caturbhadrāsanaṃ budhaḥ.
saptahastā bhavedvedī madhye pañcakarā tathā .. 274.26

274.28

tanmadhye toraṇaṃ kuryyāt sāradārumayaṃ budhaḥ.
kuryyāt kuṇḍāni catvāri caturdikṣu vicakṣaṇaḥ .. 274.27

274.29

samekhalā yoni yutāni kuryāt sampūrṇakumbhāni sahāsanāni.
sutāmrapātradvayasaṃyutāni sayajñapātrāṇi suviṣṭarāṇi .. 274.28

274.30

hastapramāṇāni tilājya dhūpa puṣpopahārāṇi suśobhanāni.
pūrvottare hastamitā'tha vedī grahādi deveśvarapūjanāya .. 274.29

274.31

atrārcanaṃ brahmaśivācyutānāṃ tatraiva kāryyaṃ phalamālyavastraiḥ.
lokeśavarṇāḥ paritaḥ patākā madhye dhvajaḥ kiṅkiṇikāyutaḥ syāt .. 274.30

274.32

dvāreṣu kāryāṇi ca toraṇāni catvāryyapi kṣīravanaspatīnām.
dvāreṣu kumbhadvayamatrakāryyaṃ sraggandhadhūpāmbararatnayuktam .. 274.31

274.33

śāleṅgudīcandanadevadāruśrīparṇibilvapriyakāñcanottham.
stambhadvayaṃ hastayugāvakhātaṃ kṛtvā dṛḍhaṃ pañcakarocchritañca .. 274.32

274.34

tadantaraṃ hastacatuṣṭayaṃ syādathodaraṅgaśca tadaṅgameva.
samānajātiśca tulāvalambhyā haimena madhye puruṣeṇa yuktā .. 274.33

274.35

dairghyeṇa sā hastacatuṣṭayaṃ syāt pṛthutvamasyāstu daśāṃgulāni.
suvarṇapaṭṭābharaṇā tu kāryyā sā lohapāśadvayaśrṛṅgalābhiḥ .. 274.34

274.36

yutā suvarṇena tu ratnamālā vibhūṣitāmālyavilepanābhyām.

274.37

cakraṃ likhedvārijagarbhayuktaṃ nānārajobhiḥ bhuvipuṣpakīrṇam .. 274.35
vimānakañcopari pañcavarṇaṃ saṃsthāpayet puṣpaphalopaśobham.

274.38

athartvijo vedavidaśca kāryyāḥ surūpaveśānvayaśīlayuktāḥ .. 274.36
vidhānadakṣāḥ paṭavo'nukūlā ye cāryyadeśaprabhavā dvijendrāḥ.

274.39

guruśca vedāntavidāryyavaṃśa samudbhavaḥ śīlakulābhirūpaḥ .. 274.37
purāṇaśāstrābhirato'tidakṣaḥ prasannagambhīrasarasvatīkaḥ.

274.40

sitāmbaraḥ kuṇḍalahemasūtrakeyūrakaṇṭhābharaṇābhirāmaḥ .. 274.38

274.41

pūrveṇa ṛgvedavidāvathāstāṃ yajurvidau dakṣiṇataśca śastau.
sthāpyau dvijau sāmavidau tu paścādātharvaṇāvuttaratastu kāryau .. 274.39

To the east of the Maṇḍapa two Brâhmaṇas versed in the Ṛigveda should be seated, to the south should be seated two Brâhmaṇas accomplished in the Yajurveda, two to the west knowing the Sâmaveda and two to the north versed in the Atharvaveda All those learned men should offer Homas or sacrificial libations four times in four directions by reciting the Vedic hymns on their respective altars to Gaṇeśa, Grahas, Lokapâls, Aṣṭavasu, Āditya, Marudgana, Brahmâ, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Sûrya and the Vanaspatis—39-40

274.42

vināyakādigrahalokapālavasvaṣṭakādityamarudgaṇānām.
brahmācyute sārkaṃvanaspatīnāṃ svamantrato homacatuṣṭayaṃ syāt .. 274.40

274.43

japyāni sūktāni tathaiva caiṣāmanukrameṇāpi yathā svarūpam.
homāvasāne kṛtatūryyanādo gururgṛhītvā balipuṣpadhūpam.

Afterwards the mind should be turned to the mantras sacred to them At the close of the sacrifice when the Homas are over, the preceptors should get the music played and then taking the Valis, flowers and incense in order and invoke the Lokapals—41

274.44

āvāhayellokapatīn krameṇa mantrairamībhiryajamānayuktaḥ .. 274.41
ehyehi sarvāmarasiddhasādhyairabhiṣṭuto vajradharo'mareśaḥ.

The following mantras should be uttered at the time of invoking the Lokapâlas, viz :—O Indra! adored by the Devas, Sâdhyas Siddhas, come O, one armed with a thunderbolt and surrounded and fanned by the nymphs, I salute you Pray guard my sacrifice Om Indrâya Namah—42

274.45

saṃvījyamāno'psarasāṅgaṇena rakṣādhvaranno bhagavannamaste .. 274.42
ehyehi sarvāmarahavyavāha! munipravīrairabhito'bhijuṣṭaḥ.

Agni come come, be gracious enough to come You are adored by the seers all the Immortals and carrier of oblations to the gods! Be pleased to guard my sacrifice by your power and through your powerful attendants I salute you Om Agnaye Namah—43

274.46

tejasvitā lokagaṇena sārddhaṃ mamādhvaraṃ rakṣa kave! namaste .. 274.43
ehyehi vaivasvata dharmarāja! sarvāmarairarcitadivyamūrte!.

O Vaivasvata! O Divine Personage! Dharmarâja! be good enough to come You are adored by all the Devas You are of the Divine form You are the cause of men's misery and prosperity Please guard this sacrifice for my benefit I salute you Om Yamâya Namah—44

274.47

śubhāśubhānandaśucāmadhīśa! śivāya naḥ pāhi makhaṃ namaste .. 274.44
ehyehi rakṣogaṇanāyakastvaṃ sarvaistu betālapiśācasaṅghaiḥ.

Raksogananayaka! be good enough to come with your demon attendants, Vetâlas and Piśâchas, be pleased to guard this sacrifice, you are the Lord of Rakṣasas and the Lokas I salute you Om Nṛṛitaye Namah—45

274.48

mamādhvaraṃ pāhi śubhādinātha! lokeśvarastvaṃ bhagavannamaste .. 274.45
ehyehi yādogaṇavāridhīnāṅgaṇena parjanyamahāpsarobhiḥ.

Come O Lord! with the seas and the aquatic animals come with the clouds and Apsarasas The Vidyadharas and gods will sing praises of you Do you protect us I salute you Om Varunay Namah—46

274.49

vidyādharendrāmaragīyamāna! pāhi tvamasmān bhagavannamaste .. 274.46
ehyehi yajñe mama rakṣaṇāya mṛgādhirūḍhaḥ mahasiddhasaṅghaiḥ.

Come, O Lord! to protect me in my sacrifice Come seated on a stag and in company with the Siddhas (demigods) The lord of the Prānas! the great helper of the author of destruction, do you accept my worship I salute you Om Vāyave Namah—47

274.50

prāṇādhipaḥ kālakaveḥ sahāyaḥ gṛhāṇa pūjāṃ bhagavannamaste .. 274.47

274.51

ehyehi yajñeśvara! yajñarakṣāṃ vidhatsva nakṣatragaṇena sārddham.
sarvauṣadhībhiḥ pitṛbhiḥ sahaiva gṛhāṇa pūjāṃ bhagavannamaste .. 274.48

Come, O Yajneswara O (Lord of the sacrifice)! Come and save the sacrificial ceremony, with the Naksatras (stars) In company with the Oshadhis and the Pitris do you accept my offerings, O Lord! Om Somāya Namah—48 Come, O Visvesvara! come, with the Bearer of Nastri, Śūla, skull and Khatvāṅga O Lord of the worlds! Master of the sacrifice! Do you accept my worship to fulfil my sacrifice I salute you O Lord! Om Iśānaya Namah—49

274.52

ehyehi viśveśvara! nastriśūlakapālakhaṭvāṅgadhareṇa sārddham.
lokeśayajñeśvara yajñasiddhyai gṛhāṇa pūjāṃ bhagavannamaste .. 274.49

274.53

ehyehi pātāladharādharendra! nāgāṅganākinnaragīyamāna!.
yakṣoragendrāmaralokasārddhamananta! rakṣādhvaramasmadīyam .. 274.50

Come, O Lord of the Pâtâla (netherworlds) and of the mountains! Come you praised in song by the Nâga women and the Kinnaras O Ananta (Endless One)! Save our sacrifice with the great Yakṣas, and Uragas and the various gods Om Anantâya Namah—50

274.54

ehyehi viśvādhipate! munīndra! lokena sārddhaṃ pitṛdevatābhiḥ.
sarvasya dhātāsyamitaprabhāva viśādhvaranno bhagavannamaste .. 274.51

Come you the Lord of the universe! the Greatest Savant! Come you with the gods and the Pitris You are the Creator of all being of unparalled might Come to grace our Sacrifice O Lord! Om Brahmane Namah—51

274.55

trailokye yāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca.
brahmaviṣṇuśivaiḥ sārddhaṃ rakṣāṃ kurvantu tāni me .. 274.52

All beings that are in the three worlds moving or fixed—may they with Brahman, Viṣṇu and Śiva protect me—52

274.56

devadānavagandharvā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ.
ṛṣayo manavo gāvo devamātara eva ca.. 274.53

O Devas, Dânavas, Yakṣas Gandharvas Serpents, Râkṣasas, seers, men, Go, Devamâtaras, be pleased and come and protect me in the performance of my sacrifice After thus invoking the Deities, offer the ornaments of gold to the Rıtvıkas—53-54

274.57

sarve mamādhvare rakṣāṃ prakurvantu mudānvitāḥ.
ityāvāhya surāndadyādṛtvigbhyo hemabhūṣaṇam .. 274.54

274.58

kuṇḍalānica haimāni sūtrāṇi kaṭakānica.
aṃgulīyapavitrāṇi vāsāṃsi śayanāni ca .. 274.55

They should be given earrings, girdle of gold, rings, clean clothes, and bedstead and double of these should be given to the Preceptor All the Brâhmaṇas sitting in the different directions should turn their heads on Sântikâdhyaya—55 56

274.59

dviguṇaṃ gurave dadyād bhūṣaṇācchādanāni ca.
japeyuḥ śāntikādhyāyaṃ jāpakāḥ sarvatodiśam .. 274.56

274.60

tatroṣitāstu te sarvve kṛtvaivamadhivāsanam.
ādāvanteca madhye ca kuryyād brāhmaṇavācanam .. 274.57

The Brâhmaṇas engaged for the sacrifice who fast, should follow all these things, and the devotee should make the Brâhman vâchana (svastivâchana) in the beginning, middle and the end—57

274.61

tato maṅgalaśabdena snāpito vedapuṅgavaiḥ.
triḥ pradakṣiṇamāvṛtya gṛhītakusumāñjaliḥ .. 274.58

Afterwards the devotee should get himself bathed by the Brâhmaṇas and the Brâhmaṇas should recite the Vedic hymns and then he is to take a handful of flowers after circumambulation and wear a garland of white flowers and cloth He should then invoke the scale and say "you are the strength of all the Devas and rest on truth I salute you, O Jagad dhatri! you have been designed by the Lord Brahmâ as the witness You hold yourself between the Truth and the Untruth You are the life between the virtuous and the vicious You weigh all Weigh me then, and carry me across the ocean of the world I salute you Only in you is the Lord of the twenty five elements inherent I therefore salute you I salute you O, Govinda! in the form of this scale O Hari! be gracious enough to see me taken across this ocean of the world"—58 61

274.62

śuklamālyāmbaro bhūtvā tāṃ tulāmabhimantrayet.
namaste sarvadevānāṃ śaktistvaṃ satyamāsthitā .. 274.59

274.63

sākṣibhūtā jagaddhātrī nirmitā viśvayoninā.
ekataḥ sarvasatyāni tathānṛtaśatāni ca .. 274.60

274.64

dharmādharmakṛtāṃ madhye sthāpitāsi jagaddhite.
tvaṃ tule! sarvabhūtānāṃ pramāṇamiha kīrtitā .. 274.61

274.65

māṃ tolayantī saṃsārāduddharasva namo'stute.
yo'sau tatvādhipo devaḥ puruṣaḥ pañcaviṃśakaḥ .. 274.62

274.66

sa eko'dhiṣṭhito devi! tvayi tasmānnamo namaḥ.
namo namaste govinda! tulāpuruṣa saṃjñaka! .. 274.63

274.67

tvaṃ hare! tārayasvāsmānnasmāt saṃsārakardamāt.
puṇyakālaṃ samāsādya kṛtvaivamadhivāsanam .. 274.64

274.68

punaḥ pradakṣiṇāṃ kṛtvā tulāmārohayed budhaḥ.
sa khaḍgacarmakavacaḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ .. 274.65

Then after circumambulating and putting on a coat of mail, sword, shield and ornaments the devotee should sit in one of the scales—65

274.69

dharmarājamathādāya haimaṃ sūryyeṇa saṃyutam.
karābhyāṃ baddhamuṣṭibhyāmāste paśyan harermukham.. 274.66

Seeing the face of Lord Sri Hari and taking the golden image of Dharmarâja with that of the Sun by both of his hands The Brâhmaṇas should then weigh the devotee with excellent gold pieces until the scale kicks the ground Then the king eager for his prosperity should place more gold than that of his weight on the floor and remaining in the scale for sometime utter the following words—'Devi! you are the witness of all, I therefore salute you You were first created by Brahmâ and the whole of the moveable and the immoveable world is held by you O Viśvadhâriṇi! you are the soul of all beings You are the holder of the universe I salute you " After saying so he should alight from the scale and give first of all half of the whole offerings to the preceptor (Guru) and the rest should be made over to the Ṛtvijas and with their permission should distribute a portion of that wealth among others also—66-72.

274.70

tato'pare tulā bhāge nyaseyurdvijapuṅgavāḥ.
samādabhyadhikaṃ yāvat kāñcanaṃ cātinirmalam .. 274.67

274.71

puṣṭikāmastu kurvīta bhūmisaṃsthaṃ nareśvaraḥ.
kṣaṇamātraṃ tataḥ sthitvā punarevamudīrayet .. 274.68

274.72

namaste sarvabhūtānāṃ sākṣibhūte! sanātani! .
pitāmahena devi! tvaṃ nirmitā parameṣṭhinā .. 274.69

274.73

tvayā dhṛtaṃ jagatsarvaṃ sahasthāvarajaṅgamam.
sarvabhūtātmabhūtasthe! namaste viśvadhāriṇi!.. 274.70

274.74

tato'vatīryya gurave pūrvamarddhaṃ nivedayet.
ṛtvigbhyo paramardhantu dadyādudakapūrvakam .. 274.71

274.75

gurave grāmaratnāni ṛtvigbhyaśca nivedayet.
prāpya teṣāmanujñāṃ tu tathānyebhyo'pi dāpayet .. 274.72

274.76

dīnānātha viśiṣṭādīn pūjayed brāhmaṇaiḥ saha.
na ciraṃ dhārayed gehe suvarṇaṃ prokṣitaṃ budhaḥ .. 274.73

The poor, the helpless, the good, the worthy and the Brâhmaṇas should all be duly honoured The offerings of the tulâdâna, should not be allowed to lie in the house even for some time One who does so is visited by fear, privation and pestilence By readily distributing it among others one gets blessings from superiors—73 74

274.77

tiṣṭhed bhayāvahaṃ yasmācchokavyādhikaraṃ nṛṇām.
śīghraṃ parasvīkaraṇācchreyaḥ prāpnoti mānavaḥ .. 274.74

274.78

anena vidhinā yastu tulāpuruṣamācaret.
pratilokādhipasthāne pratimanvantaraṃ vaset .. 274.75

Those who observe this Mahâ Dâna in such a way reign over a Loka for one manvantara—75

274.79

vimānenārkavarṇena kiṅkiṇījālamālinā.
pūjyamāno'psarobhiśca tato viṣṇupuraṃ vrajet
kalpakoṭiśataṃ yāvattasmin loke mahīyate .. 274.76

He becomes illustrious like the Sun and then goes to the realm of Viṣṇu seated in a Vimâna decorated with beautiful perforated work, bells, garlands and adorned by the nymphs where he remains for crores of kalpas—76

274.80

karmakṣayādiha punarbhuvi rājarājo bhūpālamaulimaṇirañcitapādapīṭhaḥ.
śraddhānvito bhavati yajñasahasrayājī dīptapratāpajitasarvamahīpalokaḥ .. 274.77

On the completion of his store of virtues he is born as an illustrious emperor on this land and conquers thousands of kings after performing sacrifices The one who witnesses such an ordinance and thinks of it at the close of his life, or repeats it to others, or reads about it or hears it, goes to heaven adorned by Indra—77-78

274.81

yo dīyamānamapi paśyati bhaktiyuktaḥ kālāntare smarati vācayatīha loke ..
yo vā śrṛṇoti paṭhatīndrasamānarūpaḥ prāpnoti dhāma sapurandaradevajuṣṭam .. 274.78