Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

न पुत्रपशुरत्नानि क्षयं यान्ति पितामह सप्त कल्पसहस्राणि सप्त कल्पशतानि च कुर्वन्नशून्यशयनं विष्णुलोके महीयते //

Transliteration

na putrapaśuratnāni kṣayaṃ yānti pitāmaha sapta kalpasahasrāṇi sapta kalpaśatāni ca kurvannaśūnyaśayanaṃ viṣṇuloke mahīyate //

Translation

O Grandsire, neither sons, nor cattle, nor jewels go to ruin. By performing Aśūnyaśayana—making the bed not empty, that is, offering a bed to a worthy person—one is honored in Viṣṇu’s world for seven thousand kalpas and also seven hundred kalpas.

Word by Word

• na: not

• putra: sons/offspring

• paśu: cattle/animals

• ratnāni: jewels/precious things

• kṣayam yānti: go to decline/perish

• pitāmaha: O Grandfather (revered addressee)

• sapta: seven

• kalpa-sahasrāṇi: thousands of kalpas

• sapta kalpa-śatāni: hundreds of kalpas

• ca: and

• kurvan: doing/performing

• aśūnya-śayanam: “non-empty bed” (providing/ donating a bed so it is not left empty)

• viṣṇu-loke: in Vishnu’s realm

• mahīyate: is honored/glorified.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Pitāmaha (honorific addressee)

Tags

• Dharma
• Dāna
• Gṛhastha
• Vishnuloka
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dharmic merit (puṇya) from charity—specifically śayyā-dāna—and its long-lasting heavenly reward.

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

It supports the gṛhastha/royal duty of dāna (charitable giving): donating a bed to a worthy recipient is praised as sustaining prosperity (sons, cattle, wealth) and granting exaltation in Vishnu’s realm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual point is śayyā-dāna (“making the bed not empty”), a formal gift-item in dāna lists; it is not a Vastu or temple-construction rule, but a prescribed charitable act with stated spiritual results.