Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

यस्त्वेकभक्तेन समां शिवं हैमवृषान्वितम् धेनुं तिलमयीं दद्यात् स पदं याति शांकरम् एतद्रुद्रव्रतं नाम पापशोकविनाशनम् //

Transliteration

yastvekabhaktena samāṃ śivaṃ haimavṛṣānvitam dhenuṃ tilamayīṃ dadyāt sa padaṃ yāti śāṃkaram etadrudravrataṃ nāma pāpaśokavināśanam //

Translation

Whoever, with single-minded devotion, offers a sesame-made cow (dhenu-dāna) together with an image of Śiva accompanied by a golden bull, attains the abode of Śaṅkara. This is called the Rudra-vrata, the vow that destroys sin and sorrow.

Word by Word

• yas: whoever

• tu: indeed

• ekabhaktena: with one-pointed devotion

• samām: together/along with

• śivam: (an image of) Śiva

• haima-vṛṣa-anvitam: accompanied by a golden bull (vṛṣa)

• dhenum: a cow

• tila-mayīm: made of sesame (til)

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• saḥ: he

• padam: state/realm/abode

• yāti: goes/attains

• śāṅkaram: belonging to Śaṅkara (Śiva’s abode)

• etat: this

• rudra-vratam: Rudra-vow

• nāma: by name/is called

• pāpa-śoka-vināśanam: destroyer of sin and grief.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva
• Śaṅkara
• Rudra
• Vṛṣa (bull as Śiva’s emblem)
• Dhenu (cow-donation)
• Tila (sesame)

Tags

• Vrata
• Rudra-vrata
• Dāna
• Śiva-bhakti
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual merit (vrata) and dāna as a means to remove sin and sorrow and to reach Śiva’s abode.

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

It presents a practical householder/royal duty: sanctioned giving (dāna) with focused devotion. Such gifts—especially symbolically potent offerings like dhenu-dāna—are framed as dharmic acts that purify one’s life and secure auspicious posthumous attainments.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies a Śaiva vow involving icon-linked gifting: an image of Śiva with a golden bull emblem and a sesame-formed cow offering. The emphasis is on correct ritual components (materials and associated symbols) rather than temple architecture.