Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

माघमास्युषसि स्नानं कृत्वा दाम्पत्यमर्चयेत् भोजयित्वा यथाशक्त्या माल्यवस्त्रविभूषणः सूर्यलोके वसेत्कल्पं सूर्यव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

māghamāsyuṣasi snānaṃ kṛtvā dāmpatyamarcayet bhojayitvā yathāśaktyā mālyavastravibhūṣaṇaḥ sūryaloke vasetkalpaṃ sūryavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

In the month of Māgha, at dawn, having bathed, one should worship a married couple; and, according to one’s capacity, feed them and honor them with garlands, clothing, and ornaments. By this it is said that one dwells in the world of the Sun for a kalpa—this is remembered as the Sūrya-vrata, the vow of the Sun.

Word by Word

• माघमासि (māghamāsi): in the month of Māgha

• उषसि (uṣasi): at dawn

• स्नानं कृत्वा (snānaṃ kṛtvā): having performed a bath

• दाम्पत्यम् (dāmpatyam): a married couple (husband and wife)

• अर्चयेत् (arcayet): should worship/honor

• भोजयित्वा (bhojayitvā): having fed

• यथाशक्त्या (yathāśaktyā): according to one’s ability

• माल्य (mālya): garlands

• वस्त्र (vastra): garments

• विभूषणः (vibhūṣaṇaḥ): ornaments/adornments

• सूर्यलोके (sūrya-loke): in Sūrya’s realm (the Sun-world)

• वसेत् (vaset): one would dwell

• कल्पम् (kalpam): for a kalpa (aeon)

• सूर्यव्रतम् (sūrya-vratam): Sun-vow/observance dedicated to Sūrya

• इदं स्मृतम् (idaṃ smṛtam): this is traditionally known/remembered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s vrata discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūrya (Sun deity)
• Dāmpatya (husband and wife as a venerable pair)
• Māgha (lunar month)

Tags

• Vrata
• Sūrya worship
• Māgha snāna
• Dāna (honoring with gifts)
• Gṛhastha dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it teaches vrata-dharma—how ritual bathing, worship, and charitable honoring lead to a posthumous reward in Sūrya-loka.

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

It reflects gṛhastha (householder) ethics: begin the day with purity (dawn bath), practice hospitality/charity (feeding), and honor worthy recipients according to means (yathāśaktyā), linking social dharma with spiritual merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): Māgha-dawn bathing, worship of a dāmpatya (auspicious couple), and gifting garlands, clothing, and ornaments as part of the Sūrya-vrata observance.