Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

वर्जयित्वा मधौ यस्तु दधिक्षीरघृतैक्षवम् दद्याद्वस्त्राणि सूक्ष्माणि रसपात्रैश्च संयुतम् //

Transliteration

varjayitvā madhau yastu dadhikṣīraghṛtaikṣavam dadyādvastrāṇi sūkṣmāṇi rasapātraiśca saṃyutam //

Translation

But whoever, avoiding intoxicating liquor, gives curds (dadhi), milk, ghee (ghṛta), and sugarcane-juice, and also donates fine garments together with vessels meant for liquids, performs a highly meritorious act of charity.

Word by Word

• varjayitvā: having avoided, abstaining from

• madhau: intoxicating drink, liquor

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• dadhi: curds, yogurt

• kṣīra: milk

• ghṛta: clarified butter (ghee)

• ikṣavam: sugarcane (and its juice)

• dadyāt: should give, should donate

• vastrāṇi: garments, cloth

• sūkṣmāṇi: fine, delicate (high-quality)

• rasa-pātraiḥ: with liquid-vessels, cups/pots for juices

• ca: and

• saṃyutam: joined with, accompanied by

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Dāna
• Householder Dharma
• Ritual Purity
• Charity Items
• Matsya Purana Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to dāna-dharma teachings, emphasizing purity and merit through abstinence from intoxicants and the gifting of nourishing substances.

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

It reflects the householder (and royal patron’s) duty to support society through sattvic charity—donating nourishing foods (curds, milk, ghee, sugarcane juice), useful goods (fine clothing), and practical containers—while maintaining self-restraint by avoiding liquor.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is in the prescribed donation set: liquids/juices are to be given with proper vessels (rasa-pātra), indicating correct charitable protocol rather than Vāstu or temple-architecture rules.