Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

मार्गशीर्षत्रयोदश्यां सितायामेकभोजनः प्रार्थयेद्देवदेवेशं त्वामहं शरणं गतः //

Transliteration

mārgaśīrṣatrayodaśyāṃ sitāyāmekabhojanaḥ prārthayeddevadeveśaṃ tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ //

Translation

On the bright (waxing) thirteenth day (Trayodaśī) of Mārgaśīrṣa, taking only a single meal, one should pray to the Lord of gods: “You are my refuge; to you I have surrendered.”

Word by Word

• mārgaśīrṣa: the month Mārgaśīrṣa (Agrahāyaṇa)

• trayodaśyām: on the thirteenth lunar day

• sitāyām: in the bright fortnight (Śukla pakṣa)

• eka-bhojanaḥ: observing the vow of a single meal

• prārthayet: should pray/entreat

• deva-deveśam: the Lord of the gods (Supreme Deity)

• tvām: you

• aham: I

• śaraṇam: refuge/shelter

• gataḥ: gone to, having taken (as refuge)/surrendered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on vrata and worship

Entities Mentioned

• Deva-deveśa (Supreme Lord, Vishnu/Lord Matsya)

Tags

• Vrata
• Upavasa
• Bhakti
• Ritual
• Tithi

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches a devotional vow (eka-bhojana) and surrender to the Supreme Lord, emphasizing ritual discipline rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It prescribes a regulated observance on a specific tithi—taking one meal and offering prayer—modeling self-control and piety expected of householders and rulers who uphold dharma through disciplined worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is tithi-based worship: on Mārgaśīrṣa Śukla Trayodaśī one performs a vrata with eka-bhojana and a surrender-prayer to Deva-Deveśa; no Vāstu or temple-construction detail is stated in this verse.