Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

नक्तमब्दं चरित्वा तु गवा सार्धं कुटुम्बिने हैमं चक्रं त्रिशूलं च दद्याद्विप्राय वाससी //

Transliteration

naktamabdaṃ caritvā tu gavā sārdhaṃ kuṭumbine haimaṃ cakraṃ triśūlaṃ ca dadyādviprāya vāsasī //

Translation

Having observed for a year the vow of taking only the night-meal, a householder should, along with a cow, donate to a brāhmaṇa a golden discus and a trident, as well as a pair of garments.

Word by Word

• नक्तम् (naktam): at night / the night-meal vow

• अब्दम् (abdam): for a year

• चरित्वा (caritvā): having practiced/observed

• तु (tu): indeed

• गवा (gavā): with a cow

• सार्धम् (sārdham): together with

• कुटुम्बिने (kuṭumbine): to the householder (one with a family)

• हैमम् (haimam): golden

• चक्रम् (cakram): discus (cakra)

• त्रिशूलम् (triśūlam): trident

• च (ca): and

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): should give/donate

• विप्राय (viprāya): to a brāhmaṇa

• वाससी (vāsasī): two garments / a pair of clothes

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this dāna section)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Householder (Kuṭumbin)
• Cow (Go)
• Cakra
• Triśūla

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Householder Dharma
• Ritual Gifts
• Merit (Puṇya)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharma in the form of a vow (night-meal observance) and the prescribed charitable gifts that follow it.

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

It gives a householder-focused prescription: after sustaining a disciplined vow for a year, one should conclude it with dāna—especially gifting a cow, clothing, and auspicious symbolic weapons (cakra, triśūla) to a brāhmaṇa—showing restraint followed by generosity as core gṛhastha-dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance lies in vrata-completion through dāna and in the symbolic items: the cakra and triśūla function as sacred emblems (āyudha-symbols) offered in charity, along with garments and a cow, to sanctify the observance.