Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

मार्गशीर्षे शुभे मासि तृतीयायां मुने व्रतम् द्वादश्यामथवाष्टम्यां चतुर्दश्यामथापि वा आरभेच्छुक्लपक्षस्य कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम् //

Transliteration

mārgaśīrṣe śubhe māsi tṛtīyāyāṃ mune vratam dvādaśyāmathavāṣṭamyāṃ caturdaśyāmathāpi vā ārabhecchuklapakṣasya kṛtvā brāhmaṇavācanam //

Translation

O sage, in the auspicious month of Mārgaśīrṣa one should commence the vow on the third lunar day; or else on the twelfth, the eighth, or even the fourteenth, during the bright fortnight (śukla-pakṣa), after arranging for a Brāhmaṇa to perform the recitation.

Word by Word

• मार्गशीर्षे (mārgaśīrṣe): in (the month of) Mārgaśīrṣa

• शुभे (śubhe): auspicious

• मासि (māsi): in the month

• तृतीयायाम् (tṛtīyāyām): on the third lunar day (tithi)

• मुने (mune): O sage

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow/observance

• द्वादश्याम् (dvādaśyām): on the twelfth (tithi)

• अथवा (athavā): or

• अष्टम्याम् (aṣṭamyām): on the eighth (tithi)

• चतुर्दश्याम् (caturdaśyām): on the fourteenth (tithi)

• अथापि (athāpi): even also

• वा (vā): or

• आरभेत् (ārabhet): should begin/undertake

• शुक्लपक्षस्य (śuklapakṣasya): of the bright fortnight

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/after doing

• ब्राह्मणवाचनम् (brāhmaṇavācanam): Brāhmaṇa’s recitation/reading (of sacred text) arranged/performed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu through the sage-address ‘mune’)

Entities Mentioned

• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Śukla-pakṣa
• Brāhmaṇa

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual procedure
• Tithi selection
• Dharma
• Matsya Purana observances

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is procedural, prescribing auspicious dates and a preliminary sacred recitation for beginning a vrata, not describing pralaya or cosmogony.

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

It frames dharmic discipline as time-bound and scripture-guided: a householder (and likewise a king setting public religious standards) should begin vows on approved tithis in the bright fortnight and sanctify the act through a Brāhmaṇa’s recitation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it specifies tithi selection in Mārgaśīrṣa and requires brāhmaṇa-vācana (authoritative sacred reading/recitation) as a formal preface to initiating the vow.