Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Glory of Prayaga: The Fruit of the Anashaka Fast and the Merit of the Yamuna

Devanagari script

अनाशकफलं ब्रूहि भगवंस्तत्र कीदृशम् यं च लोकमवाप्नोति विशुद्धः सर्वकिल्बिषैः //

Transliteration

anāśakaphalaṃ brūhi bhagavaṃstatra kīdṛśam yaṃ ca lokamavāpnoti viśuddhaḥ sarvakilbiṣaiḥ //

Translation

Tell me, O Blessed Lord, what is the fruit of the anāśaka observance (abstaining from food) there, and of what kind is it? And to which world does one attain, purified of all sins?

Word by Word

• अनाशक-फलम्: the result (phala) of the anāśaka fast (complete abstention from food)

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)

• भगवन्: O Lord, O Blessed One

• तत्र: in that matter/therein

• कीदृशम्: of what nature/what kind

• यम्: which

• च: and

• लोकम्: world/realm

• अवाप्नोति: attains/obtains

• विशुद्धः: purified

• सर्व-किल्बिषैः: from all sins/impurities (kilbiṣa)

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (questioning Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Bhagavan (Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Tags

• Vrata
• Fasting
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma
• Karma-phala

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it focuses on dharma through fasting (anāśaka) and asks about the karmic result—purification from sin and attainment of a higher realm.

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

It frames fasting as a dharmic discipline relevant to householders and rulers alike: by observing a rigorous vrata, one seeks moral purification (sarva-kilbiṣa-śuddhi) and auspicious posthumous destiny—key concerns in Purāṇic royal/householder ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No architectural (vāstu) detail appears in this verse; its ritual significance is the emphasis on vrata-vidhi and phala—fasting as a purificatory observance whose merit and resulting ‘loka’ are being requested.