Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Sun-Vow

Devanagari script

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा विसृजाथ निशि तैलविवर्जितम् भुञ्जीत वत्सरान्ते तु काञ्चनं कमलोत्तमम् पुरुषं च यथाशक्त्या कारयेद्द्विभुजं तथा //

Transliteration

arghyaṃ dattvā visṛjātha niśi tailavivarjitam bhuñjīta vatsarānte tu kāñcanaṃ kamalottamam puruṣaṃ ca yathāśaktyā kārayeddvibhujaṃ tathā //

Translation

Having offered arghya (the respectful water-offering), one should release (conclude) the observance at night and take a meal free from oil. At the end of the year, one should, according to one’s means, commission a golden lotus of excellent form, and also have a two-armed figure of a man made likewise.

Word by Word

• अर्घ्यम् (arghyam): ritual offering of water/honorific oblation

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• विसृजाथ (visṛjātha): release/let go/terminate (the rite or offering)

• निशि (niśi): at night

• तैल-विवर्जितम् (taila-vivarjitam): devoid of oil (oil-free)

• भुञ्जीत (bhuñjīta): one should eat/partake (of food)

• वत्सर-अन्ते (vatsara-ante): at the end of the year

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• काञ्चनम् (kāñcanam): made of gold

• कमल-उत्तमम् (kamalottamam): excellent lotus (best among lotuses)

• पुरुषम् (puruṣam): a man/figure of a person

• च (ca): and

• यथा-शक्त्या (yathā-śaktyā): according to one’s capacity

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be made/commission

• द्वि-भुजम् (dvi-bhujam): two-armed

• तथा (tathā): likewise/in the same manner.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Arghya
• Kanchana (gold)
• Kamala (lotus)
• Dvibhuja Purusha (two-armed figure)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Ritual Procedure
• Puja Vidhi
• Iconography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on vrata-ritual procedure—offering arghya, ending the observance at night, dietary restraint (oil-free food), and prescribed year-end gifts.

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

It outlines a dharmic observance: disciplined conduct (regulated eating) and dāna (charitable commissioning of sacred objects) at the completion of a yearly vow—duties applicable to householders and rulers alike as patrons of ritual and charity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes arghya and the proper conclusion of a vow, plus an oil-free meal; iconographically, it specifies commissioning a golden lotus and a dvibhuja (two-armed) human figure—suggesting standardized sacred gift-objects/mūrti forms used in Purāṇic worship and dāna.