Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

इदमाचरतो ब्रह्मन्न् अखण्डव्रतम् आचरेत् यथाकथंचित् कमलैर् द्वादश द्वादशीर् मुने //

Transliteration

idamācarato brahmann akhaṇḍavratam ācaret yathākathaṃcit kamalair dvādaśa dvādaśīr mune //

Translation

O Brahman, one who undertakes this observance should maintain the unbroken vow; and, O sage, on twelve Dvādaśī days he should worship (the Lord) with lotus flowers, in whatever way he is able.

Word by Word

• idam: this (rite/observance)

• ācarataḥ: of one who is practicing/undertaking

• brahman(n): O Brahman (honorific address)

• akhaṇḍa-vratam: an unbroken/continuous vow

• ācaret: should perform/observe

• yathā-kathaṃcit: by any means, as best as one can

• kamalaiḥ: with lotus flowers

• dvādaśa: twelve

• dvādaśīḥ: Dvādaśī (the 12th lunar day) observances/days

• mune: O sage

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu through a sage-address formula)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman
• Muni
• Dvādaśī
• Kamala (lotus)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dharma
• Vaishnava ritual
• Dvādaśī
• Lotus worship

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—maintaining an unbroken vow and performing Dvādaśī worship with lotus offerings.

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

It frames dharma as disciplined continuity: the practitioner (including a householder or ruler) should keep the vow without break and perform prescribed observances on Dvādaśī days, adapting offerings to one’s capacity (yathā-kathaṃcit).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes lotus-flower worship on twelve Dvādaśī days as part of an akhaṇḍa-vrata, emphasizing regular calendrical observance and accessible offerings rather than temple-construction details.