Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — The Nakṣatra-Puruṣa Vrata: Worship of Viṣṇu’s Cosmic Body through the Lunar M...

Devanagari script

इति पठति शृणोति वातिभक्त्या पुरुषवरो व्रतमङ्गनाथ कुर्यात् कलिकलुषविदारणं मुरारेः सकलविभूतिफलप्रदं च पुंसाम् //

Transliteration

iti paṭhati śṛṇoti vātibhaktyā puruṣavaro vratamaṅganātha kuryāt kalikaluṣavidāraṇaṃ murāreḥ sakalavibhūtiphalapradaṃ ca puṃsām //

Translation

Thus, the best of men—reciting and listening with devoted faith—should undertake this sacred observance (vrata) of Lord Murāri, the cleaver of the defilements of the Kali age; for it grants people the fruits of every kind of prosperity and attainment.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• paṭhati: recites/reads

• śṛṇoti: hears/listens

• (ati-)bhaktyā: with intense devotion

• puruṣa-varaḥ: the best of men/noble person

• vratam: vow/observance

• aṅganāthaḥ: Lord/Protector (as the deity of the observance)

• kuryāt: should perform/should undertake

• kali-kaluṣa-vidāraṇam: the destroyer of Kali-age impurity

• murāreḥ: of Murāri (Vishnu, slayer of Mura)

• sakala: all/every

• vibhūti: prosperity, power, auspicious attainments

• phala-pradam: bestowing results/fruits

• ca: and

• puṃsām: for men/for people.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration of vows and their fruits)

Entities Mentioned

• Murāri (Vishnu)
• Kali (Kali-yuga)

Tags

• Vrata
• Vishnu Bhakti
• Kali-yuga
• Phalaśruti
• Purana Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it teaches a Kali-yuga remedy—devotional recitation and hearing of a Vishnu-related vrata—said to destroy the moral-spiritual impurity (kaluṣa) characteristic of the age.

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

It frames dharma in practical terms: a noble person (including householders and rulers) should support and personally practice faith-based disciplines—hearing, reciting, and observing vows—because they strengthen virtue and yield welfare (vibhūti) for oneself and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The emphasis is ritual rather than architectural: it highlights vrata-performance and the paired acts of pāṭha (recitation) and śravaṇa (listening) as a complete devotional procedure culminating in a phalaśruti (statement of benefits).