Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite

Devanagari script

श्रावणस्याष्टमी कृष्णा तथाषाढी च पूर्णिमा कार्त्तिकी फाल्गुनी चैत्री ज्येष्ठपञ्चदशी सिता मन्वन्तरादयश् चैता दत्तस्याक्षय्यकारिकाः //

Transliteration

śrāvaṇasyāṣṭamī kṛṣṇā tathāṣāḍhī ca pūrṇimā kārttikī phālgunī caitrī jyeṣṭhapañcadaśī sitā manvantarādayaś caitā dattasyākṣayyakārikāḥ //

Translation

The dark eighth (Aṣṭamī) of Śrāvaṇa; the full-moon day of Āṣāḍha; likewise the full-moon days of Kārttika, Phālguna, and Caitra; the bright fifteenth of Jyeṣṭha; and Manvantara and similar sacred occasions—gifts given at these times become causes of imperishable (akṣaya) merit.

Word by Word

• śrāvaṇasya: of (the month) Śrāvaṇa

• aṣṭamī: the eighth lunar day

• kṛṣṇā: in the dark fortnight

• tathā: likewise

• āṣāḍhī: belonging to (the month) Āṣāḍha

• ca: and

• pūrṇimā: full-moon day

• kārttikī: (full moon) in Kārttika

• phālgunī: (full moon) in Phālguna

• caitrī: (full moon) in Caitra

• jyeṣṭha-pañcadaśī: the fifteenth tithi in Jyeṣṭha

• sitā: in the bright fortnight

• manvantara-ādayaḥ: Manvantara (periods/occasions) and the like

• ca: and

• etāḥ: these

• dattasyā: of what is given (a gift)

• akṣayya-kārikāḥ: makers/causes of imperishability (undecaying reward).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Manvantara

Tags

• Dana-Dharma
• Tithi
• Purnima
• Akshaya-punya
• Hindu ritual calendar

FAQs

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

It does not discuss Pralaya directly; it frames Manvantara-related occasions as sacred times when charitable acts yield imperishable (akṣaya) spiritual results.

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

It guides householders and rulers in dāna-dharma: giving charity on specified lunar dates and sacred periods is presented as a disciplined duty that multiplies merit and supports social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual-calendar based (tithi/occasion selection): it lists specific dates—Aṣṭamī and various Pūrṇimās—on which gifts and rites are considered especially efficacious, producing akṣaya merit.