Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

समाप्यैवं यथाशक्त्या द्वादश द्वादशीः पुनः संवत्सरान्ते लवणपर्वतेन समन्विताम् शय्यां दद्यान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ गुरवे धेनुसंयुताम् //

Transliteration

samāpyaivaṃ yathāśaktyā dvādaśa dvādaśīḥ punaḥ saṃvatsarānte lavaṇaparvatena samanvitām śayyāṃ dadyānmuniśreṣṭha gurave dhenusaṃyutām //

Translation

Thus, having duly completed the twelve Dvādaśī observances to the best of one’s ability, at the end of the year, O best of sages, one should present to one’s guru a bed furnished with a “mountain of salt” (a heap of salt) and accompanied by a cow.

Word by Word

• समाप्य (samāpya): having completed

• एवं (evaṁ): thus

• यथाशक्त्या (yathāśaktyā): according to one’s capacity

• द्वादश (dvādaśa): twelve

• द्वादशीः (dvādaśīḥ): Dvādaśī observances (the 12th lunar day vows)

• पुनः (punaḥ): again/thereafter

• संवत्सरान्ते (saṁvatsara-ante): at the end of the year

• लवणपर्वतेन (lavaṇa-parvatena): with a heap/mound of salt (‘salt-mountain’)

• समन्विताम् (samanvitām): endowed/furnished with

• शय्याम् (śayyām): a bed/couch

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): should give

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ (muni-śreṣṭha): O best of sages

• गुरवे (gurave): to the teacher/guru

• धेनुसंयुताम् (dhenu-saṁyutām): accompanied by a milch cow.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (narrative frame typical of the Matsya Purana’s dharma sections)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Dvādaśī (Vrata)
• Dhenu (Cow)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Vaishnava Dharma
• Householder Duties
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a vrata’s completion rite—specifically a year-end donation to the guru after observing twelve Dvādaśīs.

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

It frames ideal gṛhastha-dharma: disciplined observance of recurring vows (Dvādaśī) and concluding them with guru-oriented dāna (bed, cow, and salt), performed within one’s means (yathāśaktyā).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it specifies the concluding dāna-items—śayyā (bed/couch), lavaṇa-parvata (a symbolic heap of salt), and a cow—as the formal completion offering for the Dvādaśī cycle.