Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Kalyāṇa-Saptamī

Devanagari script

*ईश्वर उवाच सौरं धर्मं प्रवक्ष्यामि नाम्ना कल्याणसप्तमीम् विशोकसप्तमीं तद्वत् फलाढ्यां पापनाशिनीम् //

Transliteration

*īśvara uvāca sauraṃ dharmaṃ pravakṣyāmi nāmnā kalyāṇasaptamīm viśokasaptamīṃ tadvat phalāḍhyāṃ pāpanāśinīm //

Translation

The Lord said: “I shall expound the Sun-related religious observance, named ‘Kalyāṇa-saptamī’, also called ‘Viśoka-saptamī’—rich in merit and a destroyer of sins.”

Word by Word

• ईश्वर (īśvara): the Lord

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• सौरम् (sauraṃ): pertaining to the Sun (Sūrya)

• धर्मम् (dharmaṃ): religious duty/observance

• प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi): I will explain/teach

• नाम्ना (nāmnā): by name, called

• कल्याणसप्तमीम् (kalyāṇasaptamīm): Kalyāṇa-saptamī, the auspicious seventh day

• विशोकसप्तमीम् (viśokasaptamīm): Viśoka-saptamī, the sorrowless seventh day

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise/also

• फलाढ्याम् (phalāḍhyāṃ): abundant in fruits (merit and results)

• पापनाशिनीम् (pāpanāśinīm): destroyer of sins

Speaker

• Īśvara (Lord Matsya/Vishnu speaking in the Matsya Purana dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Īśvara
• Sūrya
• Kalyāṇa-saptamī
• Viśoka-saptamī

Tags

• Vrata
• Dharma
• Saura
• Saptamī
• Pāpa-nāśana

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it introduces a Sun-related vow (saptamī-vrata) aimed at removing sin and sorrow.

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

It frames a practical dharma for lay life: a householder (and by extension a king as public exemplar) should observe meritorious vows—here, a Saura saptamī—seeking ethical purification (pāpa-nāśana) and well-being (kalyāṇa/viśoka).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is explicit: it announces a specific vrata centered on Sūrya and the saptamī tithi; architectural rules are not mentioned in this verse.