Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं सम्पूज्य गोविन्दम् अश्नीयात्तैलवर्जितम् नक्तमक्षारलवणं यावत्तत्स्याच्चतुष्टयम् //

Transliteration

evaṃ sampūjya govindam aśnīyāttailavarjitam naktamakṣāralavaṇaṃ yāvattatsyāccatuṣṭayam //

Translation

Thus, having duly worshipped Govinda, one should eat food free from oil; and one should take the night-meal without alkaline additives (akṣāra) and without salt—maintaining this discipline for a set of four (days/nights).

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• sampūjya: having fully worshipped

• govindam: Govinda (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

• aśnīyāt: one should eat

• taila-varjitam: devoid of oil

• naktam: at night / as a night-meal (naktabhojana)

• a-kṣāra: without kṣāra (alkali, alkaline seasoning)

• a-lavaṇam: without salt

• yāvat: for as long as

• tat: that observance

• syāt: should be

• catuṣṭayam: a set of four (commonly four days/nights as a vrata-unit).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as an instructor on dharma/vrata) to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Govinda
• Vishnu

Tags

• Vrata
• Govinda-puja
• Dietary-discipline
• Nakta-bhojana
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it prescribes a vrata discipline—after worshipping Govinda, one follows specific dietary restrictions for a fourfold period.

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

It reflects the householder/royal duty of observing regulated worship and self-restraint: devotion (Govinda-pūjā) paired with controlled diet (no oil, no alkali, no salt) as part of dharmic practice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is vrata-procedure: perform Govinda worship first, then keep a disciplined night-meal (naktabhojana) with specified exclusions, sustained for a catuṣṭaya (four-unit observance).