Shloka 62

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

महाफलानि यस्त्यक्त्वा चतुर्मासं द्विजातये हैमानि कार्त्तिके दद्याद् गोयुगेन समन्वितम् एतत् फलव्रतं नाम विष्णुलोकफलप्रदम् //

Transliteration

mahāphalāni yastyaktvā caturmāsaṃ dvijātaye haimāni kārttike dadyād goyugena samanvitam etat phalavrataṃ nāma viṣṇulokaphalapradam //

Translation

Whoever, having abstained from choice fruits for the four months, gives golden gifts to a twice-born (brāhmaṇa) in the month of Kārttika, together with a pair of cows—this is called the Phala-vrata (“Fruit-vow”), and it bestows the reward of attaining Viṣṇu’s world.

Word by Word

• mahā-phalāni: great/choice fruits

• yas: whoever

• tyaktvā: having renounced/abstained from

• catur-māsam: for four months (Cāturmāsya)

• dvi-jātaye: to a twice-born person (typically a brāhmaṇa)

• haimāni: golden items/gifts

• kārttike: in the month of Kārttika

• dadyāt: should give/gives

• go-yugena: with a yoke/pair of cows

• samanvitam: accompanied by/along with

• etat: this

• phala-vratam: fruit-vow (a vrata involving fruits)

• nāma: by name/called

• viṣṇu-loka: Viṣṇu’s abode/world

• phala-pradam: bestowing the fruit/result.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as an instructor of dharma to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Dvija (twice-born/Brāhmaṇa)
• Kārttika (month)
• Cāturmāsya (four-month observance)
• Go-yuga (pair of cows)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Kārttika
• Cāturmāsya
• Vaishnava Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches a dharmic observance (vrata) and charitable giving (dāna) aimed at attaining Viṣṇu’s realm.

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

It frames a householder-style discipline: self-restraint during Cāturmāsya (abstaining from choice fruits) and meritorious giving in Kārttika—especially gifts to a dvija, accompanied by cows—presented as a direct path to religious merit and spiritual reward.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: the verse defines a specific vrata (Phala-vrata) tied to Cāturmāsya and Kārttika, emphasizing regulated diet/renunciation and prescribed dāna (golden gifts and a pair of cows).