Shloka 71

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

हैमं पलद्वयादूर्ध्वं रथमश्वयुगान्वितम् ददत्कृतोपवासः स्याद् दिवि कल्पशतं वसेत् कल्पान्ते राजराजः स्याद् अश्वव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

haimaṃ paladvayādūrdhvaṃ rathamaśvayugānvitam dadatkṛtopavāsaḥ syād divi kalpaśataṃ vaset kalpānte rājarājaḥ syād aśvavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

One who, having observed a fast, donates a golden chariot furnished with a yoke of horses—whose gold exceeds two palas—dwells in heaven for a hundred kalpas; and at the end of a kalpa becomes a king of kings. This is remembered as the Aśvavrata (the horse-vow).

Word by Word

• haimam: made of gold

• pala-dvayāt ūrdhvam: exceeding two palas (in weight/measure)

• ratham: chariot

• aśva-yuga-anvitam: furnished with a yoke/team of horses

• dadat: giving/donating

• kṛta-upavāsaḥ: having performed a fast

• syāt: becomes/should be

• divi: in heaven

• kalpa-śatam: a hundred kalpas

• vaset: dwells

• kalpa-ante: at the end of a kalpa

• rāja-rājaḥ: king of kings/suzerain

• aśva-vratam: the vow/observance connected with (gifting) a horse

• idam smṛtam: this is traditionally taught/remembered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the vrata/dāna discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Aśvavrata
• Upavāsa (fasting)
• Dāna (charitable gifting)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Aśva (horses)
• Kalpa

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Upavāsa
• Punya-phala
• Royal merit

FAQs

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

It uses the cosmic time unit “kalpa” to measure merit’s duration (hundreds of kalpas in heaven), but it is not a Pralaya narrative; it is a dharma teaching framed in cosmic chronology.

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

It promotes dāna (charitable gifting) combined with upavāsa (fasting) as a householder’s and ruler’s dharmic practice, promising prosperity and sovereignty (rāja-rāja status) as the karmic fruit of generous, ritually disciplined giving.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: the Aśvavrata centers on a prescribed donation—specifically a golden chariot with horse-yoke—performed with fasting, illustrating Matsya Purana’s vrata-based method for accruing merit.