Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī Vrata: Monthly Śiva-Names

Devanagari script

न वित्तशाठ्यं कुर्वीत कुर्वन्दोषमवाप्नुयात् कृष्णाष्टमीमुपोष्यैव सप्तकल्पशतत्रयम् पुमान्सम्पूजितो देवैः शिवलोके महीयते //

Transliteration

na vittaśāṭhyaṃ kurvīta kurvandoṣamavāpnuyāt kṛṣṇāṣṭamīmupoṣyaiva saptakalpaśatatrayam pumānsampūjito devaiḥ śivaloke mahīyate //

Translation

One should not practice deceit in matters of wealth; whoever does so incurs fault. But by fasting on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī alone, a man—honoured and worshipped by the gods—attains great eminence in Śiva’s world for an immeasurably long divine span, as though for hundreds of kalpas.

Word by Word

• na: not

• vitta: wealth, money

• śāṭhyam: deceit, fraud, trickery

• kurvīta: should do/practice

• kurvan: doing

• doṣam: fault, sin, demerit

• avāpnuyāt: would obtain/incur

• kṛṣṇāṣṭamīm: the dark-fortnight eighth lunar day (Kṛṣṇa Aṣṭamī)

• upoṣya: having fasted/observing a fast

• eva: indeed/alone

• sapta: seven

• kalpa: aeon

• śata: hundred

• trayam: three (a triad)

• pumān: a man/person

• sampūjitaḥ: well-honoured, duly worshipped

• devaiḥ: by the gods

• śiva-loke: in Śiva’s realm/world

• mahīyate: is glorified/exalted

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s vrata-teaching (within the Matsya–Manu discourse framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī
• Śiva
• Devas

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Fasting
• Ethics
• Śivaloka

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on ethical conduct (avoiding financial deceit) and the long-lasting merit gained through fasting on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī.

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

It frames a core duty for householders and rulers alike: do not engage in financial fraud. Wealth acquired or handled through deceit is treated as doṣa (moral fault), while disciplined vrata-observance (like fasting on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī) is praised as a purifier and merit-generator.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (vrata): observing an upavāsa (fast) on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī is said to yield extraordinary spiritual reward—honour by the gods and exaltation in Śivaloka—rather than any Vāstu or temple-construction rule.