Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

*नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि विष्णोर्व्रतमनुत्तमम् विभूतिद्वादशी नाम सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम् //

Transliteration

*nandikeśvara uvāca śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi viṣṇorvratamanuttamam vibhūtidvādaśī nāma sarvadevanamaskṛtam //

Translation

Nandikeśvara said: “Listen, Nārada; I shall tell you of Viṣṇu’s unsurpassed vow—called Vibhūti-Dvādaśī—revered and saluted by all the gods.”

Word by Word

• नन्दिकेश्वरः: Nandikeśvara

• उवाच: said

• शृणु: listen

• नारद: O Nārada

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall explain/tell

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu

• व्रतम्: sacred vow/observance

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/supreme

• विभूतिद्वादशी: Vibhūti-Dvādaśī (the Dvādaśī observance named ‘Vibhūti’/prosperity-glory)

• नाम: named/called

• सर्वदेव: all gods

• नमस्कृतम्: revered/saluted (worthy of obeisance).

Speaker

• Nandikeśvara

Entities Mentioned

• Nandikeśvara
• Nārada
• Viṣṇu
• Sarva-deva (all gods)

Tags

• Vrata
• Vaishnava Dharma
• Dvādaśī
• Ritual Observance
• Puranic Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces a Viṣṇu-related vrata (Vibhūti-Dvādaśī) that is honored by the gods.

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

It frames vrata-dharma as a superior religious duty: householders (and rulers) are encouraged to uphold disciplined observances dedicated to Viṣṇu, presented here as widely revered and thus socially and spiritually authoritative.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the announcement of a specific Dvādaśī vrata of Viṣṇu; details of its procedure are implied to follow in subsequent verses rather than being specified here.