Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

वत्सरं त्वेकभक्ताशी सभक्ष्यजलकुम्भदः शिवलोके वसेत्कल्पं प्राप्तिव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

vatsaraṃ tvekabhaktāśī sabhakṣyajalakumbhadaḥ śivaloke vasetkalpaṃ prāptivratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

But if, for a year, one eats only a single meal a day and donates a water-pot together with provisions, one is said to dwell in Śiva’s world for a kalpa. This is remembered as the Prāpti-vrata (the vow that yields attainment).

Word by Word

• वत्सरम् (vatsaram): for a year

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• एक-भक्त-आशी (eka-bhakta-āśī): one who eats only one meal (daily)

• स-भक्ष्य-जल-कुम्भ-दः (sa-bhakṣya-jala-kumbha-daḥ): giver of a water-pot with food/provisions

• शिव-लोके (śiva-loke): in Śiva’s world

• वसेत् (vaset): would dwell

• कल्पम् (kalpam): for a kalpa (aeon)

• प्राप्ति-व्रतम् (prāpti-vratam): the vow of attainment

• इदम् (idam): this

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is declared/remembered (as authoritative tradition).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Shivaloka

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Dharma
• Shivaloka
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches a dharma-based vrata promising residence in Śiva-loka as a karmic फल (result) of austerity and charity.

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

It frames household dharma as attainable through manageable discipline (one meal daily) and public-benefit charity (donating water with provisions), a model practice for householders and a king who sets ethical standards through dāna.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights jalakumbha-dāna (gift of a water-pot), a common Purāṇic charity linked to merit—especially valuable for travelers and ritual purity—rather than temple architecture rules.