Shloka 39

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा शिवपदं गच्छेद् विप्राय घृतपायसम् एतच्छीलव्रतं नाम शीलारोग्यफलप्रदम् //

Transliteration

dattvā śivapadaṃ gacched viprāya ghṛtapāyasam etacchīlavrataṃ nāma śīlārogyaphalapradam //

Translation

Having given a Brāhmaṇa ghṛta-pāyasa—rice-pudding cooked with ghee—one attains the auspicious state, Śiva’s abode. This is called the Śīla-vrata, the vow of good conduct, and it bestows the fruits of virtuous character and freedom from disease.

Word by Word

• dattvā: having given

• śiva-padam: Śiva’s state/abode, the auspicious highest goal

• gacchet: one goes/attains

• viprāya: to a learned Brāhmaṇa

• ghṛta-pāyasam: rice-pudding (pāyasa) prepared with ghee

• etat: this

• śīla-vratam: the vow grounded in good conduct/ethical discipline

• nāma: by name/is called

• śīla: good character, ethical disposition

• ārogya: health, freedom from illness

• phala-pradam: bestowing results/fruits

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Matsya Purāṇa’s vrata-teaching; ultimately rooted in Lord Matsya’s discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Ghṛta-pāyasa (ritual food offering)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Dāna
• Ārogya
• Puṇya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on dharma through vrata (vow) and dāna (charitable gifting), describing the merit and spiritual destination gained by a specific offering.

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

It presents a householder-facing ethic: cultivate śīla (good conduct) and support learned Brāhmaṇas through proper dāna. Such disciplined charity is said to yield both worldly benefit (health) and higher spiritual attainment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes a specific dāna item—ghṛta-pāyasa (ghee-based pāyasa)—to be given to a Brāhmaṇa as part of Śīla-vrata, emphasizing food-offering charity as a meritorious rite.