Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Sarva-Phala-Tyaga Vrata

Devanagari script

यथा फलेषु सर्वेषु वसन्त्यमरकोटयः तथा सर्वफलत्यागव्रताद्भक्तिः शिवे ऽस्तु मे //

Transliteration

yathā phaleṣu sarveṣu vasantyamarakoṭayaḥ tathā sarvaphalatyāgavratādbhaktiḥ śive 'stu me //

Translation

As countless hosts of the immortals abide within all fruits, so may devotion to Śiva arise in me through the vow of renouncing every self-seeking fruit of action.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as

• phaleṣu: in fruits/results

• sarveṣu: in all

• vasantī: dwell/abide

• amara-koṭayaḥ: crores of immortals (devas)

• tathā: so/likewise

• sarva-phala-tyāga-vratāt: from the vow of abandoning all fruits (of actions)

• bhaktiḥ: devotion

• śive: in/unto Śiva

• astu: may it be

• me: for me/in me

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (as a devotee reciting a vrata-prayer; framed within the Matsya–Manu dialogue on dharma)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Amaras (Devas)

Tags

• Vrata
• Shiva Bhakti
• Dharma
• Renunciation
• Phala-tyaga

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; instead, it uses a cosmological-style analogy (countless devas abiding within all “fruits”) to stress an inner spiritual principle: renouncing attachment to results becomes a cause for the rise of devotion to Śiva.

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

It promotes niṣkāma-dharma: performing one’s duties while relinquishing claim over outcomes. For a king or householder, this means governing, giving, and performing rites without greed for reward—transforming action into Śiva-oriented devotion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the vrata principle itself—“sarvaphala-tyāga” (abandoning all fruits). It functions as a devotional discipline: offerings and duties are performed with inner renunciation, culminating in bhakti toward Śiva rather than merit-calculation.