Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata

Devanagari script

*श्रीभगवानुवाच श्रावणस्य द्वितीयायां कृष्णायां मधुसूदनः क्षीरार्णवे सपत्नीकः सदा वसति केशवः //

Transliteration

*śrībhagavānuvāca śrāvaṇasya dvitīyāyāṃ kṛṣṇāyāṃ madhusūdanaḥ kṣīrārṇave sapatnīkaḥ sadā vasati keśavaḥ //

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: On the second lunar day (Dvitiya) of the dark fortnight in the month of Śrāvaṇa, Madhusūdana—Keśava—ever dwells in the Ocean of Milk, together with His consort.

Word by Word

• śrī-bhagavān uvāca: the Blessed Lord said

• śrāvaṇasya: of (the month) Śrāvaṇa

• dvitīyāyām: on the second (tithi), Dvitīyā

• kṛṣṇāyām: in the dark fortnight (Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa)

• madhusūdanaḥ: Madhusūdana (slayer of Madhu, Viṣṇu)

• kṣīra-arṇave: in the Ocean of Milk

• sa-patnīkaḥ: together with (His) wife/consort

• sadā: always, ever

• vasati: dwells, abides

• keśavaḥ: Keśava (Viṣṇu).

Speaker

• Śrī Bhagavān (Lord Viṣṇu/Matsya in discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Madhusūdana
• Keśava
• Kṣīrārṇava (Ocean of Milk)

Tags

• Vrata
• Vaishnava
• Shravana
• Tithi
• Ritual Calendar

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it situates Viṣṇu (Keśava) in His cosmic abode, the Ocean of Milk, emphasizing His perpetual, sustaining presence behind cosmic order.

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

By mapping a specific tithi (Śrāvaṇa Kṛṣṇa Dvitīyā) to Keśava’s divine presence, it supports householders and rulers in structuring dharmic life around observances—timely worship, vows, and disciplined calendrical practice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights a tithi suited for Keśava-oriented worship/vrata; architecturally it implies no direct Vāstu rule, but supports temple ritual scheduling (nitya/naimittika pūjā) aligned to the lunar calendar.