Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

वेश्यानङ्गवती नाम विभूतिद्वादशीव्रतम् समाप्तौ माघमासस्य लवणाचलमुत्तमम् //

Transliteration

veśyānaṅgavatī nāma vibhūtidvādaśīvratam samāptau māghamāsasya lavaṇācalamuttamam //

Translation

A courtesan named Naṅgavatī, having completed the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī vow at the close of the month of Māgha, attained the excellent holy place called Lavaṇācala.

Word by Word

• veśyā: courtesan (public woman)

• naṅgavatī nāma: named Naṅgavatī

• vibhūti-dvādaśī-vratam: the vow/observance of Vibhūti-Dvādaśī (the twelfth lunar day sacred observance)

• samāptau: at the completion (upon finishing)

• māgha-māsasya: of the month of Māgha

• lavaṇācalam: Lavaṇācala (a sacred mountain/holy region)

• uttamam: excellent, supreme, most auspicious

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the Purāṇic account within the Vrata section

Entities Mentioned

• Naṅgavatī
• Vibhūti-Dvādaśī
• Māgha
• Lavaṇācala

Tags

• Vrata
• Dvādaśī
• Māgha
• Pilgrimage
• Phala-śruti

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it illustrates a vrata’s phala (result), showing that disciplined observance can elevate a person to a sacred destination regardless of social status.

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

It underscores the householder ethic of vrata-dharma: completing a prescribed observance (especially on Dvādaśī in Māgha) is portrayed as spiritually efficacious and socially inclusive, encouraging rulers and householders to support and practice such rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the completion (samāpti) of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī vrata at Māgha’s end; the verse emphasizes correct observance and its fruit (attaining a tīrtha/holy mountain), rather than temple architecture or vastu rules.