Shloka 51

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

मासोपवासी यो दद्याद् धेनुं विप्राय शोभनाम् स वैष्णवं पदं यति भीमव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

māsopavāsī yo dadyād dhenuṃ viprāya śobhanām sa vaiṣṇavaṃ padaṃ yati bhīmavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

Whoever observes a month-long fast and gives a fine cow to a brāhmaṇa attains the Vaiṣṇava state, the supreme abode of Viṣṇu. This is remembered as the Bhīma-vrata (the Great Vow).

Word by Word

• māsa-upavāsī: one who fasts for a month

• yaḥ: whoever

• dadyāt: should give / gives

• dhenum: a cow

• viprāya: to a brāhmaṇa

• śobhanām: excellent, splendid

• saḥ: he

• vaiṣṇavam: belonging to Viṣṇu, Vaiṣṇava

• padam: state/abode (supreme goal)

• yāti: goes/attains

• bhīma-vratam: the Bhīma vow, great vow

• idam: this

• smṛtam: is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu (Vaiṣṇava-pada)
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Cow (Dhenu)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Dāna
• Upavāsa
• Vaishnava Moksha

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on dharma—specifically a vow (vrata) and gift (dāna) that lead to attaining the Vaiṣṇava abode.

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

It presents a householder-accessible discipline: sustained fasting (self-restraint) paired with charitable giving (cow-gift to a qualified brāhmaṇa), framed as a meritorious path culminating in a Vaiṣṇava spiritual goal.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the Bhīmavrata: month-long upavāsa and dhenu-dāna. No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this specific verse.