Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

फाल्गुन्यादितृतीयायां लवणं यस्तु वर्जयेत् समाप्ते शयनं दद्याद् गृहं चोपस्करान्वितम् //

Transliteration

phālgunyāditṛtīyāyāṃ lavaṇaṃ yastu varjayet samāpte śayanaṃ dadyād gṛhaṃ copaskarānvitam //

Translation

Wer am dritten Tithi, beginnend im Monat Phālguna, auf Salz verzichtet, soll nach Vollendung der Observanz ein Bett spenden und zudem ein Haus, versehen mit den notwendigen Hausgeräten.

Word by Word

• फाल्गुन्यादि-तृतीयायाम् (phālgunyādi-tṛtīyāyām): on the third tithi beginning in Phālguna

• लवणम् (lavaṇam): salt

• यः तु (yaḥ tu): whoever indeed

• वर्जयेत् (varjayet): should avoid/abstain from

• समाप्ते (samāpte): upon completion (of the vow/observance)

• शयनम् (śayanam): a bed/couch

• दद्याद् (dadyād): should give (as charity)

• गृहम् (gṛham): a house/dwelling

• च (ca): and

• उपस्कर-अन्वितम् (upaskara-anvitam): furnished with utensils/implements/equipment

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Phalguna
• Tritiya (lunar day)
• Dana (charity)
• Vrata (vow)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Householder Dharma
• Phalguna
• Tithi Observance

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—ritual abstinence (avoiding salt) and the merit-enhancing act of dāna (charity) upon completion of the vow.

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

It outlines a householder-style ethical discipline: self-restraint through dietary abstinence on a specific tithi, followed by generous giving (bed, even a furnished dwelling). Such prescriptions also serve kings as models of public virtue and patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a Phālguna-initiated Tṛtīyā observance with salt-abstinence; architecturally, it indirectly touches “gṛha-dāna” (donation of a dwelling), emphasizing a house complete with upaskara (functional furnishings/implements), a recognized high-value dāna in Purāṇic practice.