Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Procedure and Merit of the Śubha-Saptamī Vrata

Devanagari script

यावत्समाः सप्त नरः करोति यः सप्तमीं सप्तविधानयुक्ताम् स सप्तलोकाधिपतिः क्रमेण भूत्वा पदं याति परं मुरारेः //

Transliteration

yāvatsamāḥ sapta naraḥ karoti yaḥ saptamīṃ saptavidhānayuktām sa saptalokādhipatiḥ krameṇa bhūtvā padaṃ yāti paraṃ murāreḥ //

Translation

A man who, for seven years, observes the Saptamī rite endowed with its seven prescribed constituents, becomes in due course the lord of the seven worlds, and thereafter attains the supreme abode of Murāri (Vishnu).

Word by Word

• yāvat-samāḥ: for as many years

• sapta: seven

• naraḥ: a man/person

• karoti: performs/undertakes

• yaḥ: who

• saptamīm: the Saptamī observance (the seventh lunar day rite)

• sapta-vidhāna-yuktām: furnished with sevenfold procedure/requirements

• saḥ: he

• sapta-loka-adhipatiḥ: ruler/lord of the seven worlds

• krameṇa: gradually/in due order

• bhūtvā: having become

• padam: state/abode/footing

• yāti: goes/attains

• param: supreme

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

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (context: instruction on vrata and its rewards)

Entities Mentioned

• Murāri (Vishnu)
• Saptamī-vrata
• Sapta-lokas (seven worlds)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dharma
• Vishnu
• Merit (Phala)
• Saptamī

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it teaches vrata-phala (the spiritual and cosmic rewards of observing the Saptamī vow), culminating in attainment of Vishnu’s supreme abode.

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

It frames disciplined religious observance as a dharmic duty: a householder (and by extension a king) who maintains a structured vow over time gains worldly sovereignty (symbolized as lordship over the seven worlds) and ultimately spiritual liberation through Vishnu.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: the Saptamī is to be performed with a “sevenfold procedure” (sapta-vidhāna), emphasizing correct, complete observance rather than temple-architecture rules.