Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

तिलधेनुसमोपेतं समान्ते हेमपङ्कजम् शुद्धमष्टाङ्गुलं दद्याच् छिवलोके महीयते सामगाय ततश्चैतत् सामव्रतमिहोच्यते //

Transliteration

tiladhenusamopetaṃ samānte hemapaṅkajam śuddhamaṣṭāṅgulaṃ dadyāc chivaloke mahīyate sāmagāya tataścaitat sāmavratamihocyate //

Translation

ومع هبة «بقرة السمسم» (tiladhenu)، ينبغي عند ختام النذر أن يُقدَّم أيضًا لوتسٌ ذهبيٌّ طاهرٌ مقداره ثماني أَنْغُلات. فإذا فُعِل ذلك أُكرِم مُنشد السَّامَا في عالم شِيفا؛ ولذا سُمِّي هذا النذر هنا «ساما-فراتا» (Sāma-vrata).

Word by Word

• tila-dhenu: a ritual ‘cow’ made/filled with sesame seeds given as a donation

• samopetam: accompanied by/along with

• samānte: at the end/conclusion (of the rite)

• hema-paṅkajam: golden lotus

• śuddham: pure/undefiled (ritually proper)

• aṣṭa-aṅgulam: eight aṅgulas (a traditional unit of measure)

• dadyāt: one should give (as a gift)

• śiva-loke: in Śiva’s world/realm

• mahīyate: is honored/is greatly esteemed

• sāma-gāya: for/unto the chanter of Sāman (Sāmavedic singer)

• tataḥ: therefore/then

• ca etat: and this (indeed)

• sāma-vratam: the vow/observance connected with Sāma (Sāmaveda)

• iha ucyate: is said/declared here (in this text).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the dāna/vow discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva
• Sāmagā (Sāmavedic chanter)
• Tiladhenu (sesame-cow gift)
• Hema-paṅkaja (golden lotus)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Sāmaveda
• Ritual Gifts
• Śivaloka

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dāna (ritual gifting) connected to a Sāmavedic vow (Sāma-vrata) and the resulting merit in Śiva’s realm.

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

It frames a householder/kingly duty as patronage of Vedic specialists through correctly measured, ritually pure gifts (tiladhenu and a golden lotus), presenting charity as a dharmic means to gain spiritual merit and honor.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is precise prescription: the donor should give a pure golden lotus of eight aṅgulas at the rite’s conclusion, together with a tiladhenu—showing how Matsya Purana specifies measurements and accompaniments for effective vrata-related donations.