Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

विप्रायेन्धनदो यस्तु वर्षादिचतुरस्त्वृतून् घृतधेनुप्रदो ऽन्ते च स परं ब्रह्म गच्छति वैश्वानरव्रतं नाम सर्वपापविनाशनम् //

Transliteration

viprāyendhanado yastu varṣādicaturastvṛtūn ghṛtadhenuprado 'nte ca sa paraṃ brahma gacchati vaiśvānaravrataṃ nāma sarvapāpavināśanam //

Translation

Whoever, through the four seasons beginning with the rains, gives firewood to a Brāhmaṇa, and at the conclusion of the vow donates a ghee-yielding cow (ghṛta), attains the Supreme Brahman. This is called the Vaiśvānara-vrata, the vow that destroys all sins.

Word by Word

• viprāya: to a Brāhmaṇa

• indhana-daḥ: giver of firewood (fuel)

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• varṣa-ādi: beginning with the rainy season

• caturaḥ: four

• ṛtūn: seasons

• ghṛta-dhenu-pradaḥ: giver of a ghee(-giving) cow

• ante: at the end (on completion)

• ca: and

• saḥ: he

• param brahma: the Supreme Brahman

• gacchati: goes/attains

• vaiśvānaravrataṃ nāma: named the Vaiśvānara-vrata

• sarva-pāpa-vināśanam: destroyer of all sins

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman
• Vaiśvānara

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Dana
• Punya
• Atonement

FAQs

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

It does not discuss pralaya directly; it teaches a purificatory vow (Vaiśvānara-vrata) whose merit is said to erase sins and lead to the Supreme Brahman.

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

It frames dharma through disciplined seasonal giving: supporting sacred fires and Vedic livelihoods by donating fuel to a Brāhmaṇa over the yearly cycle, then completing the observance with a major gift (a ghee-yielding cow).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual focus is Vaiśvānara (sacred fire): the vow centers on sustaining fire-rites through fuel-giving and concluding with a prescribed dāna, rather than on vāstu or temple construction.