Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

वर्जयेच्चैत्रमासे च यश्च गन्धानुलेपनम् शुक्तिं गन्धभृतां दत्त्वा विप्राय सितवाससी वारुणं पदमाप्नोति दृढव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

varjayeccaitramāse ca yaśca gandhānulepanam śuktiṃ gandhabhṛtāṃ dattvā viprāya sitavāsasī vāruṇaṃ padamāpnoti dṛḍhavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

Wer im Monat Caitra darauf verzichtet, duftende Salben aufzutragen, und einem Brāhmaṇa ein Muschelgefäß (Śaṅkha) voller Wohlgerüche zusammen mit weißen Gewändern schenkt, erlangt die Sphäre Varuṇas. Dies gilt als ein festes, standhaftes Gelübde.

Word by Word

• varjayet: should abstain/avoid

• caitra-māse: in the month of Caitra

• yaḥ ca: and whoever

• gandha-anulepanam: anointing with perfumes/perfumed paste

• śuktim: a conch shell (as a vessel)/shell-cup

• gandha-bhṛtām: filled with fragrance/perfume

• dattvā: having given

• viprāya: to a brāhmaṇa

• sita-vāsasī: white garments (two pieces)/white clothing

• vāruṇam: belonging to Varuṇa

• padam: world/abode/realm

• āpnoti: attains

• dṛḍha-vratam: firm vow

• idam: this

• smṛtam: is declared/remembered (in tradition)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s vrata-vidhi in a prescriptive style

Entities Mentioned

• Varuṇa
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Caitra
• Ritual Purity
• Varuna Loka

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it teaches a vrata (discipline) and dāna (gift) whose merit is said to lead to Varuṇa’s realm.

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

It reflects householder ethics in the Matsya Purana: self-restraint (avoiding luxury like perfumes for a month) combined with charity to a brāhmaṇa, linking personal discipline and social-religious giving to spiritual reward.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes Caitra-month restraint and a specific dāna: a conch-shell vessel filled with fragrance plus white garments, presented to a brāhmaṇa, as a defined vow leading to Varuṇa-loka.