Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — The Ārdrānandakarī Tṛtīyā Vrata: Ritual Procedure

Devanagari script

नारी वा कुरुते या तु कुमारी विधवा च या सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति देव्यनुग्रहलालिता //

Transliteration

nārī vā kurute yā tu kumārī vidhavā ca yā sāpi tatphalamāpnoti devyanugrahalālitā //

Translation

Any woman who performs it—whether a maiden or a widow—also attains that very fruit, cherished by the Goddess’s grace.

Word by Word

• नारी (nārī): woman

• वा (vā): or/indeed

• कुरुते (kurute): performs/undertakes

• या (yā): who

• तु (tu): however/indeed

• कुमारी (kumārī): maiden/virgin girl

• विधवा (vidhavā): widow

• च (ca): and/also

• या (yā): who

• सा अपि (sā api): she too

• तत्-फलम् (tat-phalam): that fruit/result

• आप्नोति (āpnoti): attains/obtains

• देवी-अनुग्रह (devī-anugraha): the Goddess’s favor/grace

• लालिता (lālitā): cherished/caressed/favored (by).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a phala-śruti passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Devī

Tags

• Devī
• Vrata
• Phala-śruti
• Strī-dharma
• Ritual merit

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a phala-śruti on Devī-vrata, emphasizing eligibility and the Goddess’s grace rather than pralaya cosmology.

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

It frames dharma as inclusive in ritual practice: householders and rulers should support and respect women’s right to perform vows and worship, since spiritual merit is not restricted by marital status.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it clarifies adhikāra (eligibility): women—maidens and widows alike—may perform the stated Devī observance and receive the same promised result through the Goddess’s favor.