Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Viśoka-Dvādaśī: A Lakṣmī–Viṣṇu Vow for Sorrow-Removal and P...

Devanagari script

*मनुरुवाच किम् अभीष्टवियोगशोकसंघादलम् उद्धर्तुमुपोषणं व्रतं वा विभवोद्भवकारि भूतले ऽस्मिन् भवभीतेरपि सूदनं च पुंसः //

Transliteration

*manuruvāca kim abhīṣṭaviyogaśokasaṃghādalam uddhartumupoṣaṇaṃ vrataṃ vā vibhavodbhavakāri bhūtale 'smin bhavabhīterapi sūdanaṃ ca puṃsaḥ //

Translation

Manu said: Which observance—fasting (upoṣaṇa) or a vowed religious discipline (vrata)—can lift a man out of the crushing mass of grief caused by separation from what he desires, and which, on this earth, becomes a source of prosperity and also a destroyer of his fear of worldly existence (saṃsāra)?

Word by Word

• manuḥ uvāca: Manu said

• kim: which/what

• abhīṣṭa: desired, cherished

• viyoga: separation

• śoka: grief

• saṃghāta: heap, mass, accumulation

• tam: that (accusative, referring to the mass of sorrow)

• uddhartum: to lift out, to rescue

• upoṣaṇam: fasting, religious abstinence

• vratam: vow, sacred observance

• vā: or

• vibhava: prosperity, wealth, power

• udbhava-kāri: causing the arising/production of

• bhūtale: on the earth

• asmin: in this (world)

• bhava-bhīteḥ: from fear of becoming/saṃsāra, fear of worldly existence

• api: also/even

• sūdanam: destroying, slaying

• ca: and

• puṃsaḥ: of a man/person.

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Upoṣaṇa (fasting)
• Vrata (vow/observance)
• Bhava (saṃsāra)

Tags

• Vrata
• Upavasa
• Dharma
• Saṃsāra
• Penance

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing pralaya directly; it frames an inner, existential concern—fear of bhava (saṃsāra)—and asks which dharmic practice can destroy that fear.

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

Manu’s question treats fasting and vratas as practical dharma for worldly life: disciplines that can steady the mind in grief, generate merit, and support prosperity—relevant both to householders seeking stability and kings seeking righteous strength and public welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the emphasis on upoṣaṇa (fasting) and vrata (vowed observance) as formal religious disciplines; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.