Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Pratiśukra Rite and the Worship of Śukra

Devanagari script

यावच्छुक्रस्य न हृता पूजा सा माल्यकैः शुभैः वटकैः पूरिकाभिश्च गोधूमैश्चणकैरपि तावदन्नं न चाश्नीयात् त्रिभिः कामार्थसिद्धये //

Transliteration

yāvacchukrasya na hṛtā pūjā sā mālyakaiḥ śubhaiḥ vaṭakaiḥ pūrikābhiśca godhūmaiścaṇakairapi tāvadannaṃ na cāśnīyāt tribhiḥ kāmārthasiddhaye //

Translation

So long as the worship of Śukra (Venus) has not been duly performed—with auspicious garlands, with vātaka-cakes and pūrikā pastries, and also with wheat and chickpeas—one should not eat food. (This observance is to be maintained) for three (days/occasions), for the attainment of desire and wealth.

Word by Word

• yāvat: so long as

• śukrasya: of Śukra (Venus)

• na: not

• hṛtā: performed/fulfilled (duly carried out)

• pūjā: worship

• sā: that

• mālyakaiḥ: with garlands/wreaths

• śubhaiḥ: auspicious

• vaṭakaiḥ: with vātaka (fried cakes/balls)

• pūrikābhiḥ: with pūrikā (pastries/filled breads)

• ca: and

• godhūmaiḥ: with wheat

• caṇakaiḥ: with chickpeas/gram

• api: also

• tāvat: until then

• annam: food

• na: not

• ca: and

• aśnīyāt: should eat

• tribhiḥ: by/for three (days/occasions)

• kāma-artha-siddhaye: for the accomplishment of desire (kāma) and wealth/prosperity (artha).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu) [contextual attribution typical of Matsya Purana dialogue]

Entities Mentioned

• Shukra (Venus)

Tags

• Vrata
• Graha Puja
• Ritual Fasting
• Kama
• Artha

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a ritual discipline for Śukra worship, emphasizing purity and restraint (not eating) until the rite is completed.

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

It frames a householder-style observance: self-control, correct offerings, and fasting until worship is completed—presented as a dharmic method to seek kāma (desired outcomes) and artha (prosperity) without neglecting ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies the upacāras (offerings) for Śukra—garlands and specific foods (vātaka, pūrikā, wheat, chickpeas)—and mandates abstaining from eating until the pūjā is done, maintained for “three” units (commonly read as three days/observances) to secure results.