Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

तस्मादुत्सृज्य राजेन्द्र पुष्करं तन्महीतले गङ्गातटं समाश्रित्य विभूतिद्वादशीव्रतम् कुरु राजेन्द्र निर्वाणम् अवश्यं समवाप्स्यसि //

Transliteration

tasmādutsṛjya rājendra puṣkaraṃ tanmahītale gaṅgātaṭaṃ samāśritya vibhūtidvādaśīvratam kuru rājendra nirvāṇam avaśyaṃ samavāpsyasi //

Translation

Therefore, O best of kings, set aside Puṣkara upon this earth and take refuge on the bank of the Gaṅgā. Perform the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī vow; O king, you will surely attain nirvāṇa (final liberation).

Word by Word

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya): having abandoned/setting aside

• राजेन्द्र (rājendra): O lord of kings

• पुष्करम् (puṣkaram): Puṣkara (the sacred tīrtha)

• तन्-महीतले (tan-mahītale): on that earth/in this world

• गङ्गा-तटम् (gaṅgā-taṭam): the bank of the Ganges

• समाश्रित्य (samāśritya): having resorted to/taking shelter in

• विभूति-द्वादशी-व्रतम् (vibhūti-dvādaśī-vratam): the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī vow observed on Dvādaśī

• कुरु (kuru): perform

• राजेन्द्र (rājendra): O king

• निर्वाणम् (nirvāṇam): liberation, cessation of worldly bondage

• अवश्यम् (avaśyam): certainly

• समवाप्स्यसि (samavāpsyasi): you will attain/obtain.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (kingly addressee)

Entities Mentioned

• Ganga
• Pushkara
• Vibhuti-Dvadashi Vrata
• Nirvana

Tags

• Tirtha
• Vrata
• Dharma
• Ganga
• Moksha

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it focuses on soteriology (moksha) through a specific Dvādaśī vow and the sanctity of the Gaṅgā as a liberating tīrtha.

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

It frames royal dharma as including vrata-observance and pilgrimage: even a king should adopt disciplined vows and seek holy association (Gaṅgā-tīra) to secure spiritual emancipation, not merely worldly merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī vrata and recommends performing it at the Gaṅgā’s bank, presenting tīrtha-location as a key enhancer of the vow’s liberating fruit.