Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

सम्पूज्य विप्रदाम्पत्यं माल्यवस्त्रविभूषणैः शक्तितस्त्रिपलादूर्ध्वं विश्वात्मा प्रीयतामिति //

Transliteration

sampūjya vipradāmpatyaṃ mālyavastravibhūṣaṇaiḥ śaktitastripalādūrdhvaṃ viśvātmā prīyatāmiti //

Translation

Having duly honoured a Brāhmaṇa couple with garlands, garments, and ornaments, one should offer according to one’s capacity—no less than three palas—saying: “May Viśvātmā, the Universal Self, be pleased.”

Word by Word

• सम्पूज्य (sampūjya): having properly worshipped/honoured

• विप्र (vipra): Brahmin

• दाम्पत्यं (dāmpatyaṃ): a married couple (husband and wife)

• माल्य (mālya): garlands

• वस्त्र (vastra): garments/cloth

• विभूषणैः (vibhūṣaṇaiḥ): with ornaments/adornments

• शक्तितः (śaktitaḥ): according to one’s ability

• त्रिपलात् (tripalāt): from three palas (a weight-measure) / at least three palas

• ऊर्ध्वम् (ūrdhvam): upwards, i.e., more than/above

• विश्वात्मा (viśvātmā): the Universal Self (the indwelling Lord)

• प्रीयताम् (prīyatām): may (He) be pleased

• इति (iti): thus (the concluding formula).

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Viśvātmā
• Vipra (Brahmin couple)

Tags

• Dharma
• Dāna
• Brahmin-honour
• Pūjā
• Householder-duties

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on dharma through worship and gifting, framing ritual giving as a means to please the Viśvātmā (the indwelling universal Lord) who transcends cosmic cycles.

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

It sets a clear grihastha/royal ethic: honour worthy Brahmins (including the couple as a social unit) with respectful gifts, and give in proportion to one’s means—while maintaining a stated minimum—so that charity remains both sincere and regulated.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes pūjā with specific gift-types (garlands, clothing, ornaments) and a quantified minimum measure (three palas or more), sealed by the devotional formula “viśvātmā prīyatām.”