Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Mandāra-Saptamī Vrata

Devanagari script

माघस्यामलपक्षे तु पञ्चम्यां लघुभुङ्नरः दन्तकाष्ठं ततः कृत्वा षष्ठीमुपवसेद्बुधः //

Transliteration

māghasyāmalapakṣe tu pañcamyāṃ laghubhuṅnaraḥ dantakāṣṭhaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā ṣaṣṭhīmupavasedbudhaḥ //

Translation

In the pure bright fortnight of Māgha, on the fifth lunar day a man should eat lightly; then, having performed the rite of cleansing the teeth with a tooth-stick, the wise should observe a fast on the sixth day.

Word by Word

• māghasya: of the month Māgha

• amala-pakṣe: in the pure/bright fortnight

• tu: indeed

• pañcamyām: on the fifth (tithi)

• laghu-bhuk: eating lightly/taking a light meal

• naraḥ: a man/person

• danta-kāṣṭham: tooth-stick (for dental cleansing)

• tataḥ: thereafter/then

• kṛtvā: having done

• ṣaṣṭhīm: the sixth (tithi)

• upavaset: should fast/should observe upavāsa

• budhaḥ: the wise/learned person.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the vrata/dharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Māgha
• Pañcamī
• Ṣaṣṭhī
• Upavāsa
• Dantakāṣṭha

Tags

• Vrata
• Māgha
• Tithi
• Upavāsa
• Śauca

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on tithi-based ritual discipline in Māgha, emphasizing purity, restraint in diet, and fasting.

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

It prescribes a regulated routine—light eating on Pañcamī and fasting on Ṣaṣṭhī—reflecting the householder’s (and ruler’s) duty to practice self-control, cleanliness (śauca), and observance of vrata as part of dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights preparatory purity: dental cleansing with dantakāṣṭha and graduated restraint leading into upavāsa; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.