Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — The Sarasvata Vrata: Vow for Sweet Speech

Devanagari script

अथवादित्यवारेण ग्रहताराबलेन च पायसं भोजयेद्विप्रान् कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम् //

Transliteration

athavādityavāreṇa grahatārābalena ca pāyasaṃ bhojayedviprān kṛtvā brāhmaṇavācanam //

Translation

Or else, on a Sunday—taking into account the strength of the planets and stars—one should feed the Brahmins with sweet milk-rice (pāyasa), after arranging the recitation of Brahminical sacred texts.

Word by Word

• atha vā: or else/alternatively

• āditya-vāreṇa: on Sunday (the day of Āditya/Sūrya)

• graha-tārā-balena: according to the strength/influence of planets and stars

• ca: and

• pāyasam: milk-rice, sweet rice pudding

• bhojayet: should feed, should offer a meal

• viprān: Brahmins

• kṛtvā: having done/after arranging

• brāhmaṇa-vācanam: Brahmin recitation—chanting/reading of Vedic/Paurāṇic passages by Brahmins

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s vrata/ritual injunctions

Entities Mentioned

• Aditya (Surya)
• Graha
• Tara
• Vipra (Brahmins)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Dana
• Graha-Tara Bala
• Brahmana Bhojana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on ritual merit gained through timed charity—feeding Brahmins on an auspicious day while considering planetary and stellar strength.

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

It presents a householder/kingly dharma practice: selecting an auspicious time (graha–tārā bala), sponsoring sacred recitation, and offering nourishing food (pāyasa) to Brahmins as a meritorious act of dāna and hospitality.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is astrological timing (muhūrta via graha–tārā bala) and the paired act of brāhmaṇa-vācana (scriptural recitation) with brāhmaṇa-bhojana (feeding), using pāyasa as the prescribed offering.