Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

पञ्चामृतेन स्नपनं कृत्वा संवत्सरं विभोः वत्सरान्ते पुनर्दद्याद् धेनुं पञ्चामृतेन हि //

Transliteration

pañcāmṛtena snapanaṃ kṛtvā saṃvatsaraṃ vibhoḥ vatsarānte punardadyād dhenuṃ pañcāmṛtena hi //

Translation

Having performed the Lord’s ceremonial bathing (abhiṣeka) with pañcāmṛta for a full year, at the end of that year one should again present a cow, accompanied by pañcāmṛta.

Word by Word

• पञ्चामृतेन (pañcāmṛtena): with pañcāmṛta, the five nectars (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar/jaggery)

• स्नपनम् (snapanaṃ): ritual bathing, abhiṣeka

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done, after performing

• संवत्सरम् (saṃvatsaram): for one year

• विभोः (vibhoḥ): of the all-pervading Lord (Viṣṇu/Īśvara)

• वत्सरान्ते (vatsarānte): at the end of the year

• पुनः (punar): again

• दद्याद् (dadyād): one should give, should donate

• धेनुम् (dhenum): a milch-cow

• हि (hi): indeed, emphatically

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (context: dharma of vrata and dāna)

Entities Mentioned

• Vibhu (the all-pervading Lord/Viṣṇu)
• Pañcāmṛta
• Dhenu (cow)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Pañcāmṛta Abhiṣeka
• Householder Dharma
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on ritual observance—year-long pañcāmṛta abhiṣeka of the Lord and the concluding act of charity.

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

It presents a dharmic model of sustained worship (daily/regular abhiṣeka over a year) culminating in dāna (go-dāna). For householders and rulers alike, devotion is paired with public-spirited generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes pañcāmṛta-snapana (abhiṣeka) as a structured, year-long vrata and specifies the end-of-vow offering: gifting a cow along with pañcāmṛta—standard temple/home worship praxis rather than Vāstu rules.