Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

कार्त्तिके चैत्रवैशाखे मार्गशीर्षे च फाल्गुने आषाढे वा दशम्यां तु शुक्लायां लघुभुङ्नरः कृत्वा सायन्तनीं संध्यां गृह्णीयान्नियमं बुधः //

Transliteration

kārttike caitravaiśākhe mārgaśīrṣe ca phālgune āṣāḍhe vā daśamyāṃ tu śuklāyāṃ laghubhuṅnaraḥ kṛtvā sāyantanīṃ saṃdhyāṃ gṛhṇīyānniyamaṃ budhaḥ //

Translation

In the months of Kārttika, Caitra, Vaiśākha, Mārgaśīrṣa, Phālguna, or Āṣāḍha—on the bright-fortnight tenth day (Śukla Daśamī)—a man who eats lightly, having performed the evening Sandhyā, should wisely undertake the prescribed niyama, the rule of religious observance.

Word by Word

• कार्त्तिके: in (the month of) Kārttika

• चैत्रवैशाखे: in Caitra and Vaiśākha

• मार्गशीर्षे: in Mārgaśīrṣa

• च: and

• फाल्गुने: in Phālguna

• आषाढे: in Āṣāḍha

• वा: or

• दशम्यां: on the tenth lunar day (Daśamī)

• तु: indeed

• शुक्लायां: in the bright fortnight (Śukla-pakṣa)

• लघुभुङ्नरः: a man who eats lightly/moderately

• कृत्वा: having done/performed

• सायन्तनीं: pertaining to evening

• संध्यां: Sandhyā worship (twilight rite)

• गृह्णीयात्: should take up/undertake

• नियमं: a niyama (regulated vow/observance)

• बुधः: the wise person.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the didactic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Śukla Daśamī
• Sandhyā (Sāyantana Sandhyā)
• Kārttika
• Caitra
• Vaiśākha
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Phālguna
• Āṣāḍha

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Sandhyavandana
• Tithi
• Panchanga
• Niyama

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it prescribes a dharma-practice: observing a niyama on Śukla Daśamī in certain months after performing the evening Sandhyā, with light eating.

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

It supports the householder’s (and by extension a king’s) duty of disciplined daily worship: perform sāyantana-sandhyā properly and keep regulated observances (niyama) on specified tithis, accompanied by moderation in food (laghubhojana).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it highlights Sandhyā (twilight worship) and the timing of vrata/niyama on Śukla Daśamī across specific lunar months—useful for Panchāṅga-based observance planning.