Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — The Viśokā-Saptamī Vow

Devanagari script

यं यं प्रार्थयते कामं तं तमाप्नोति पुष्कलम् निष्कामः कुरुते यस्तु स परं ब्रह्म गच्छति //

Transliteration

yaṃ yaṃ prārthayate kāmaṃ taṃ tamāpnoti puṣkalam niṣkāmaḥ kurute yastu sa paraṃ brahma gacchati //

Translation

Whatever desire a person prays for, that very desire he attains in abundance; but the one who acts without desire attains the Supreme Brahman.

Word by Word

• yaṃ yaṃ: whatever, whichever

• prārthayate: prays for, earnestly seeks

• kāmam: desire, wished-for object

• taṃ tam: that very (same)

• āpnoti: obtains, attains

• puṣkalam: abundantly, in fullness

• niṣkāmaḥ: desireless, free from personal craving

• kurute: performs (action), acts

• yaḥ tu: but he who

• saḥ: he

• param: supreme

• brahma: Brahman, ultimate reality

• gacchati: goes to, reaches

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman

Tags

• Dharma
• Moksha
• Niṣkāma-Karma
• Bhakti
• Renunciation

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it teaches a moral-spiritual law: desires yield corresponding results, while desireless action leads beyond worldly outcomes to Brahman.

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

It supports the Matsya Purana’s ethical guidance that rulers and householders should perform prescribed duties without selfish craving for reward—governing, giving, and protecting as dharma—thereby gaining inner purity and liberation-oriented merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific vāstu or temple rule is stated; ritually, it implies that worship and rites done for personal boons grant results, but rites performed in a niṣkāma spirit become liberating rather than merely wish-fulfilling.