Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

रजनीषु च सर्वासु पिबेद्दर्भोदकं बुधः ततस्तु गीतनृत्यादि कारयेत्सकलां निशाम् //

Transliteration

rajanīṣu ca sarvāsu pibeddarbhodakaṃ budhaḥ tatastu gītanṛtyādi kārayetsakalāṃ niśām //

Translation

On every night, the wise person should drink water sanctified with darbha grass; thereafter, he should have singing, dancing, and the like performed throughout the entire night.

Word by Word

• रजनीषु (rajanīṣu): on nights

• च (ca): and

• सर्वासु (sarvāsu): on all (of them)

• पिबेत् (pibet): should drink

• दर्भ-उदकम् (darbha-udakam): water consecrated with darbha (kuśa) grass

• बुधः (budhaḥ): the wise person

• ततः तु (tataḥ tu): then indeed/thereafter

• गीत-नृत्य-आदि (gīta-nṛtya-ādi): singing, dancing, and related festivities

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be done/arrange

• सकलाम् (sakalām): the whole/entire

• निशाम् (niśām): night.

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the prescribed vrata/observance as taught in the Purana’s discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Darbha (Kuśa grass)

Tags

• Vrata
• Ritual purity
• Nisha-jagarana
• Devotional music
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a ritual discipline—purificatory darbha-water and an all-night devotional vigil with music and dance.

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

It supports the householder’s (and by extension a king’s) dharmic duty to uphold religious observances: maintaining purity (darbha-water) and sponsoring community devotional activities (gīta-nṛtya) during prescribed nights.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, darbha (kuśa) is a standard purifier in Vedic-Puranic practice; the verse also indicates nishā-jāgaraṇa—staying awake with devotional performance—as a key component of the observance.