Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

फाल्गुन्यादितृतीयायां लवणं यस्तु वर्जयेत् समाप्ते शयनं दद्याद् गृहं चोपस्करान्वितम् //

Transliteration

phālgunyāditṛtīyāyāṃ lavaṇaṃ yastu varjayet samāpte śayanaṃ dadyād gṛhaṃ copaskarānvitam //

Translation

Whoever abstains from salt on the third tithi beginning in the month of Phālguna—when the observance is completed—should give in charity a bed, and also a house furnished with its necessary household implements.

Word by Word

• फाल्गुन्यादि-तृतीयायाम् (phālgunyādi-tṛtīyāyām): on the third tithi beginning in Phālguna

• लवणम् (lavaṇam): salt

• यः तु (yaḥ tu): whoever indeed

• वर्जयेत् (varjayet): should avoid/abstain from

• समाप्ते (samāpte): upon completion (of the vow/observance)

• शयनम् (śayanam): a bed/couch

• दद्याद् (dadyād): should give (as charity)

• गृहम् (gṛham): a house/dwelling

• च (ca): and

• उपस्कर-अन्वितम् (upaskara-anvitam): furnished with utensils/implements/equipment

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Phalguna
• Tritiya (lunar day)
• Dana (charity)
• Vrata (vow)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Householder Dharma
• Phalguna
• Tithi Observance

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—ritual abstinence (avoiding salt) and the merit-enhancing act of dāna (charity) upon completion of the vow.

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

It outlines a householder-style ethical discipline: self-restraint through dietary abstinence on a specific tithi, followed by generous giving (bed, even a furnished dwelling). Such prescriptions also serve kings as models of public virtue and patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a Phālguna-initiated Tṛtīyā observance with salt-abstinence; architecturally, it indirectly touches “gṛha-dāna” (donation of a dwelling), emphasizing a house complete with upaskara (functional furnishings/implements), a recognized high-value dāna in Purāṇic practice.