Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

आषाढादिव्रतं यस्तु वर्जयेन्नखकर्तनम् वार्ताकं च चतुर्मासं मधुसर्पिर्घटान्वितम् //

Transliteration

āṣāḍhādivrataṃ yastu varjayennakhakartanam vārtākaṃ ca caturmāsaṃ madhusarpirghaṭānvitam //

Translation

Whoever undertakes the vow beginning in Āṣāḍha should refrain from cutting the nails; and throughout the four months of Caturmāsa he should also abstain from vārtāka (eggplant), maintaining the vow with offerings of honey and ghee kept in pots.

Word by Word

• āṣāḍha-ādi-vratam: the vow starting from the month of Āṣāḍha

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• varjayet: should avoid/refrain from

• nakha-kartanam: cutting of nails

• vārtākam: vārtāka, brinjal/eggplant (a restricted food item)

• ca: and

• caturmāsam: for the four-month sacred period (Caturmāsa)

• madhu: honey

• sarpiḥ: ghee/clarified butter

• ghaṭa-anvitam: accompanied with pots/jars (i.e., kept or offered in vessels, part of the observance).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Āṣāḍha
• Caturmāsa
• madhu (honey)
• sarpiḥ (ghee)
• ghaṭa (ritual pot)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Caturmāsa
• Āhāra-niyama
• Ritual offerings

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a Dharma-oriented instruction on Caturmāsa vow-discipline, emphasizing bodily restraint and regulated diet as part of religious observance.

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

It frames household/royal conduct around self-restraint during Caturmāsa: avoiding nail-cutting and certain foods, and sustaining devotional offerings (honey and ghee). Such discipline is presented as a model of dharmic living and public exemplarity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual element is the use of ghaṭas (pots/jars) associated with madhu and sarpiḥ—indicative of prescribed offering materials and vessel-based ritual setup during the vow, rather than Vāstu or temple-construction rules.