Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Viśokā-Saptamī Vow

Devanagari script

*ईश्वर उवाच विशोकसप्तमीं तद्वद् वक्ष्यामि मुनिपुंगव यामुपोष्य नरः शोकं न कदाचिदिहाश्नुते //

Transliteration

*īśvara uvāca viśokasaptamīṃ tadvad vakṣyāmi munipuṃgava yāmupoṣya naraḥ śokaṃ na kadācidihāśnute //

Translation

The Lord said: “O best of sages, I shall likewise describe the Viśoka-Saptamī. By fasting (upavāsa) on that sacred seventh lunar day, a person never experiences grief in this world.”

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord

• uvāca: said

• viśoka-saptamīm: the ‘Griefless Seventh’ observance (a Saptamī vrata)

• tadvad: likewise/in the same manner (as previously described)

• vakṣyāmi: I shall explain

• muni-puṅgava: O foremost among sages

• yām: which (vrata)

• upoṣya: having fasted/observed a fast

• naraḥ: a person

• śokam: grief/sorrow

• na: not

• kadācit: ever/at any time

• iha: here (in this world)

• aśnute: attains/experiences

Speaker

• Īśvara (Lord Matsya/Vishnu speaking within the Matsya Purana dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Īśvara
• muni (addressed sage)
• Viśoka-Saptamī

Tags

• Vrata
• Upavasa
• Dharma
• Ritual Observance
• Saptamī

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it introduces a vrata (Viśoka-Saptamī) focused on removing grief through disciplined fasting and sacred observance.

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

It frames upavāsa (fasting) as a practical dharmic discipline for laypeople: by observing prescribed vows, a householder (and by extension a ruler) cultivates steadiness, merit, and freedom from sorrow in worldly life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the naming and promise of the Viśoka-Saptamī vrata: fasting on the seventh lunar day is presented as a formal observance with a stated fruit—freedom from grief.