Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

व्रतान्ते विप्रमिथुनं पूज्यं धेनुत्रयान्वितम् वृक्षं हिरण्मयं दद्यात् सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् एतत् कीर्तिव्रतं नाम भूतिकीर्तिफलप्रदम् //

Transliteration

vratānte vipramithunaṃ pūjyaṃ dhenutrayānvitam vṛkṣaṃ hiraṇmayaṃ dadyāt so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet etat kīrtivrataṃ nāma bhūtikīrtiphalapradam //

Translation

At the conclusion of the vow, having duly honoured a Brahmin couple together with three cows, one should gift a golden tree. By doing so, one attains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. This is called the Kīrti-vrata, bestowing the results of prosperity and lasting fame.

Word by Word

• vratānte: at the end of the vow

• vipra-mithunam: a Brahmin couple

• pūjyam: to be honoured/worshipped

• dhenu-traya-anvitam: accompanied by three cows

• vṛkṣam: a tree

• hiraṇmayam: made of gold/golden

• dadyāt: one should give (as a gift)

• saḥ: he

• aśvamedha-phalam: the fruit/merit of the Aśvamedha

• labhet: obtains

• etat: this

• kīrti-vratam: the vow named 'Kīrti' (fame)

• nāma: by name

• bhūti: prosperity/well-being

• kīrti: fame/renown

• phala-pradam: bestowing results/fruit.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the vrata teachings)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipra (Brahmin)
• Aśvamedha

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Dharma
• Punya
• Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on vrata completion rites and the merit gained through specific gifts (dāna).

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

It prescribes an end-of-vow duty (vratānta-kriyā): honouring a Brahmin couple and donating cows and a golden tree—classic householder/kingly dharma emphasizing charity, patronage of learned Brahmins, and merit-making acts.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: the prescribed dāna includes a symbolic “golden tree” (hiraṇmaya-vṛkṣa), alongside three cows, as a high-merit concluding offering equated with Aśvamedha results.