Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

अनेन विधिना यस्तु कुर्याच्छिवचतुर्दशीम् सो ऽश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः //

Transliteration

anena vidhinā yastu kuryācchivacaturdaśīm so 'śvamedhasahasrasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ //

Translation

Whoever performs the Śiva-caturdaśī observance according to this prescribed method attains a reward equivalent to that of a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices.

Word by Word

• anena: by this

• vidhinā: method/rite

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• kuryāt: should perform/undertake

• śiva-caturdaśīm: the Śiva-related fourteenth (tithi) observance/vrata

• saḥ: he/that person

• aśvamedha-sahasrasya: of a thousand horse-sacrifices

• phalam: fruit/reward

• prāpnoti: obtains/attains

• mānavaḥ: a human being/person

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Aśvamedha
• Śiva-caturdaśī

Tags

• Vrata
• Śiva
• Dharma
• Punya
• Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on vrata-phala (the spiritual merit of observing Śiva-caturdaśī) and equates it with the merit of grand Vedic sacrifices.

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

It frames devotional observance (vrata) as an accessible dharmic act for human beings—especially householders—offering merit comparable to costly royal sacrifices like the Aśvamedha, thereby democratizing religious attainment through disciplined practice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: performing Śiva-caturdaśī exactly “by this method” (vidhi) is emphasized, and its reward is stated to equal that of a thousand Aśvamedhas.