Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं यस्तु पुमान्कुर्याद् अशून्यशयनं हरेः वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो नारायणपरायणः //

Transliteration

evaṃ yastu pumānkuryād aśūnyaśayanaṃ hareḥ vittaśāṭhyena rahito nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ //

Translation

Thus, the man who performs Hari’s Aśūnyaśayana observance—free from deceit regarding wealth and wholly devoted to Nārāyaṇa—truly fulfills this rite and its intended merit.

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• pumān: a man (person)

• kuryāt: should do / performs

• aśūnya-śayanam: the ‘non-empty bed’ observance (keeping the bed/household pure and ritually ‘not vacant’ in a prescribed devotional sense)

• hareḥ: of Hari (Vishnu)

• vitta-śāṭhyena: with cheating/deceit in matters of wealth

• rahitaḥ: devoid of, free from

• nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ: wholly devoted to Nārāyaṇa, having Nārāyaṇa as the supreme refuge/aim.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Hari
• Narayana

Tags

• Vrata
• Vishnu Worship
• Householder Dharma
• Dana
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches ethical purity in a Vishnu-related vrata—devotion to Nārāyaṇa and freedom from financial deceit.

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

It frames dharma as integrity: one should perform religious observances without wealth-based fraud, aligning household life (and by extension royal conduct) with honest means and wholehearted devotion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Aśūnyaśayana, a Vishnu observance connected with maintaining prescribed purity and devotional order in the household; the emphasis is on correct performance and moral qualification (non-deceit).