Shloka 76

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठे पञ्चतपाः सायं हेमधेनुप्रदो दिवम् यात्यष्टमीचतुर्दश्यो रुद्रव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhe pañcatapāḥ sāyaṃ hemadhenuprado divam yātyaṣṭamīcaturdaśyo rudravratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

In the month of Jyeṣṭha, one who performs the fivefold austerity (pañcatapā) in the evening and donates a golden cow attains heaven. This is remembered as the Rudra-vrata, to be observed on the eighth and the fourteenth lunar days.

Word by Word

• jyeṣṭhe: in (the month of) Jyeṣṭha

• pañcatapāḥ: one practicing the five-heat austerity (pañca-tapa)

• sāyam: in the evening

• hema-dhenu-pradaḥ: giver/donor of a golden cow

• divaṃ: heaven

• yāti: goes/attains

• aṣṭamī: the 8th lunar day

• caturdaśyaḥ: the 14th lunar day

• rudra-vratam: Rudra’s vow/observance

• idaṃ: this

• smṛtam: is remembered/declared (in tradition).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Purāṇic observances; teaching context within the Matsya Purāṇa’s vrata section)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra (Shiva)

Tags

• Vrata
• Rudra
• Jyeṣṭha
• Dāna
• Upavāsa

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—ritual austerity (pañca-tapa) and donation (hema-dhenu) as merit-bearing acts leading to heaven.

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

It frames a householder-style dharmic practice: observing aṣṭamī and caturdaśī with austerity and charitable giving. For rulers too, it implies public dharma through dāna (donation) and personal restraint, reinforcing merit and social welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: performing pañca-tapa (a heat-austerity) in the evening and giving a symbolic high-value gift (golden cow) as part of Rudra-vrata on aṣṭamī and caturdaśī.