Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

तत्रोपविश्य दाम्पत्यम् अलंकृत्य विधानतः पत्न्यास्तु भाजनं दद्याद् भक्ष्यभोज्यसमन्वितम् //

Transliteration

tatropaviśya dāmpatyam alaṃkṛtya vidhānataḥ patnyāstu bhājanaṃ dadyād bhakṣyabhojyasamanvitam //

Translation

Seated there, the husband should, according to the prescribed rule, honor and adorn the marital state; and he should then give his wife a vessel filled with both dainties (snacks) and foods for the meal.

Word by Word

• tatra: there

• upaviśya: having sat down/seated

• dāmpatyam: the married couple’s state/marital union

• alaṁkṛtya: having adorned/honored/decorated

• vidhānataḥ: according to injunction/proper procedure

• patnyāḥ tu: and (for) the wife

• bhājanaṁ: a vessel/bowl/plate

• dadyāt: should give

• bhakṣya: edible dainties/snacks (to be eaten)

• bhojya: meal-food/that which is to be eaten as food

• samanvitam: endowed with/filled with/along with.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the typical Matsya Purana dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• patnī (wife)
• dāmpatya (marital union)

Tags

• Grihastha Dharma
• Householder Ritual
• Domestic Offering
• Dampatya
• Vidhi

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on household/ritual conduct—specifically the proper honoring of the wife within domestic observance.

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

It directly teaches Gṛhastha-dharma: the husband should follow prescribed procedure (vidhi) in domestic rites, honoring the marital relationship and providing the wife with a proper share of food—an ethic of respect, order, and rightful distribution.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes a formal domestic act—seating, honoring (alaṅkāra) the marital context, and giving the wife a food-vessel containing both bhakṣya and bhojya—indicating structured household worship and propriety.