Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माण्डं काञ्चनं कृत्वा तिलराशिसमन्वितम् त्र्यहं तिलप्रदो भूत्वा वह्निं संतर्प्य सद्विजम् //

Transliteration

brahmāṇḍaṃ kāñcanaṃ kṛtvā tilarāśisamanvitam tryahaṃ tilaprado bhūtvā vahniṃ saṃtarpya sadvijam //

Translation

Nachdem man ein goldenes ‘Brahmāṇḍa’ (Sinnbild des kosmischen Eies) gefertigt und es mit Haufen von Sesam gefüllt hat, soll man drei Tage lang zum Spender von Sesam werden; nachdem man das heilige Feuer und den würdigen Brāhmaṇa gesättigt hat, erlangt man Verdienst.

Word by Word

• brahmāṇḍam: the ‘Brahmāṇḍa’, cosmic egg emblem/ritual symbol

• kāñcanam: golden, made of gold

• kṛtvā: having made/fashioned

• tila-rāśi: heaps/mounds of sesame

• samanvitam: endowed with, filled with

• tryaham: for three days

• tila-pradaḥ: giver/donor of sesame

• bhūtvā: having become

• vahnim: the fire (Agni), sacrificial fire

• saṃtarpya: having satisfied/propitiated with offerings

• sadvijam: the good/virtuous twice-born, i.e., a worthy Brāhmaṇa

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (ritual-dharma guidance)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmāṇḍa
• Agni
• Brāhmaṇa (Dvipra)

Tags

• Dāna
• Tiladāna
• Śrāddha
• Ritual
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses the symbol of the ‘Brahmāṇḍa’ (cosmic egg) as a ritual form, emphasizing merit through sacred gifting and offerings rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It prescribes a householder/kingly duty of dāna: structured charity (tiladāna) performed for three days, coupled with honoring Agni (proper offering) and supporting a worthy Brāhmaṇa—core acts of dharma that sustain social and ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies crafting a golden ‘Brahmāṇḍa’ vessel/emblem filled with sesame and performing offerings to the sacrificial fire, followed by satisfying a qualified Brāhmaṇa—an explicit procedural detail of Purāṇic dāna-vidhi.