Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Madana-Dvādaśī Vow and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

*ऋषय ऊचुः श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सूत मदनद्वादशीव्रतम् सुतानेकोनपञ्चाशद् येन लेभे दितिः पुनः //

Transliteration

*ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śrotumicchāmahe sūta madanadvādaśīvratam sutānekonapañcāśad yena lebhe ditiḥ punaḥ //

Translation

The sages said: “O Sūta, we wish to hear of the Madana-Dvādaśī vow, by which Diti again obtained forty-nine sons.”

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: the sages

• ऊचुः: said

• श्रोतुम्: to hear

• इच्छामहे: we desire

• सूत: O Sūta

• मदनद्वादशीव्रतम्: the vow (vrata) of Madana-Dvādaśī (the twelfth lunar day associated with Madana/Kāma)

• सुतान्: sons

• एकोनपञ्चाशत्: forty-nine (one less than fifty)

• येन: by which

• लेभे: obtained

• दितिः: Diti

• पुनः: again

Speaker

• The sages (ṛṣis) addressing Sūta

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Madana-Dvādaśī
• Diti

Tags

• Vrata
• Dharma
• Ritual observance
• Puranic vows
• Fertility boon

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it introduces a ritual vow (Madana-Dvādaśī) credited with granting Diti progeny, highlighting Purāṇic emphasis on dharma and vrata-fruit (ritual results).

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

It frames a householder-oriented dharmic practice: observing prescribed vows and fasts to obtain desired lawful aims (such as progeny), indicating that disciplined ritual observance is part of gṛhastha-dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it flags the Madana-Dvādaśī vrata as a specific Dvādaśī observance whose procedure and merit will be explained next.