Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Sarasvata Vrata: Vow for Sweet Speech

Devanagari script

पञ्चम्यां प्रतिपक्षं च पूजयेद्ब्रह्मवासिनीम् तथैव तण्डुलप्रस्थं घृतपात्रेण संयुतम् क्षीरं दद्याद्धिरण्यं च गायत्री प्रीयतामिति //

Transliteration

pañcamyāṃ pratipakṣaṃ ca pūjayedbrahmavāsinīm tathaiva taṇḍulaprasthaṃ ghṛtapātreṇa saṃyutam kṣīraṃ dadyāddhiraṇyaṃ ca gāyatrī prīyatāmiti //

Translation

On the fifth lunar day (pañcamī), and also on its fortnightly counterpart (pratipakṣa), one should worship the goddess who abides in Brahman (Brahmavāsinī). Likewise, one should give a prastha-measure of rice together with a vessel of ghee, and also offer milk and gold, praying, “May Gāyatrī be pleased.”

Word by Word

• पञ्चम्यां (pañcamyām): on the fifth lunar day (Pañcamī)

• प्रतिपक्षं (pratipakṣaṃ): in the counter-fortnight/opposite half of the month

• च (ca): and

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• ब्रह्मवासिनीम् (brahmavāsinīm): the one dwelling in Brahman (epithet of Gāyatrī/Devī)

• तथैव (tathaiva): likewise

• तण्डुलप्रस्थं (taṇḍula-prasthaṃ): a prastha-measure of rice

• घृतपात्रेण (ghṛta-pātreṇa): with a vessel/pot of ghee

• संयुतम् (saṃyutam): joined/combined with

• क्षीरं (kṣīraṃ): milk

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): should give/offer

• हिरण्यं (hiraṇyaṃ): gold

• च (ca): and

• गायत्री (gāyatrī): Goddess/Mantra Gāyatrī

• प्रीयताम् (prīyatām): may (she) be pleased

• इति (iti): thus (the formula).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu on vrata-dharma and ritual gifts)

Entities Mentioned

• Gayatri
• Brahmavasini (epithet of Gayatri/Devi)

Tags

• Vrata
• Gayatri
• Dana
• Panchami
• Ritual Worship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—specific calendrical worship (Pañcamī and the counter-fortnight) and gifts meant to please Gāyatrī.

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

It frames a householder-style duty: regular worship and dāna (rice, ghee, milk, gold) on prescribed tithis. For kings, it models royal piety through patronage and charity aligned with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes a Pañcamī observance with worship of Brahmavāsinī (Gāyatrī) and specified offerings/donations, including measured rice (prastha) and a ghee vessel.