Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश्यां तु नक्ताशी समान्ते गोधनप्रदः शैवं पदमवाप्नोति त्रैयम्बकमिदं व्रतम् //

Transliteration

caturdaśyāṃ tu naktāśī samānte godhanapradaḥ śaivaṃ padamavāpnoti traiyambakamidaṃ vratam //

Translation

On the fourteenth lunar day one should eat only at night; and at the conclusion (of the vow) one should gift wealth in cattle. By this Tryambaka vow, one attains the state (abode) of Śiva.

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश्याम् (caturdaśyām): on the fourteenth lunar day (caturdaśī)

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• नक्ताशी (naktāśī): one who eats at night only

• समान्ते (samānte): at the end/conclusion

• गोधनप्रदः (godhana-pradaḥ): giver of cattle-wealth (gift of cows)

• शैवं (śaivam): belonging to Śiva/Śiva’s

• पदम् (padam): state/abode/realm

• अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti): attains

• त्रैयम्बकम् (traiyambakam): (vow) of Tryambaka (Śiva)

• इदम् (idam): this

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow/observance.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the vrata-teachings section)

Entities Mentioned

• Tryambaka (Śiva)
• Śiva

Tags

• Vrata
• Śiva
• Caturdaśī
• Dāna
• Ritual Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it teaches ritual merit (vrata) focused on Śiva—fasting discipline on caturdaśī and concluding dāna to attain a Śaiva state.

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

It frames household/royal dharma as disciplined observance (naktāśī on caturdaśī) paired with public generosity (gifting cattle-wealth), presenting dāna and self-restraint as key duties that yield spiritual advancement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual, not architectural: it prescribes a caturdaśī night-meal fast and a concluding cow-gift as the proper completion of the Traiyambaka (Śiva) vrata.