Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

*ब्रह्मोवाच मोहाद्वापि मदाद्वापि यः परस्त्रीं समाश्रयेत् तस्यापि निष्कृतिं देव वद सर्वकृपाकर //

Transliteration

*brahmovāca mohādvāpi madādvāpi yaḥ parastrīṃ samāśrayet tasyāpi niṣkṛtiṃ deva vada sarvakṛpākara //

Translation

Brahmā said: O God, even if a man, through delusion or intoxication, approaches another man’s wife—tell me the expiation (niṣkṛti) for him as well, O you who are the source of all compassion.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मोवाच: Brahmā said

• मोहात्: from delusion, out of infatuation

• वा अपि: or even

• मदात्: from intoxication, drunkenness

• वा अपि: or even

• यः: whoever

• परस्त्रीम्: another man’s wife

• समाश्रयेत्: resorts to, approaches, seeks union with

• तस्य अपि: for him also

• निष्कृतिम्: expiation, atonement

• देव: O Lord, O Deity

• वद: speak, tell

• सर्वकृपाकर: maker/source of all compassion, all-merciful one

Speaker

• Brahmā

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā

Tags

• Dharma
• Prāyaścitta
• Householder Ethics
• Sin and Atonement
• Matsya Purana Teachings

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to a dharma/prāyaścitta context, asking about expiation for moral transgression.

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

It frames sexual restraint as a core householder duty and implies that even misconduct arising from delusion or intoxication remains ethically accountable, requiring prescribed atonement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual relevance is prāyaścitta—i.e., the forthcoming expiatory rites for the stated offense.