Shloka 81

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा सितद्वितीयायाम् इन्दोर्लवणभाजनम् समान्ते गोप्रदो याति विप्राय शिवमन्दिरम् कल्पान्ते राजराजः स्यात् सोमव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

dattvā sitadvitīyāyām indorlavaṇabhājanam samānte goprado yāti viprāya śivamandiram kalpānte rājarājaḥ syāt somavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

On the second lunar day of the bright fortnight, having offered a vessel of salt to the Moon, and at the completion of the observance having also gifted a cow, one should go to a brāhmaṇa at a temple of Śiva. At the end of the aeon, he becomes a “king of kings”—this is remembered as the Soma‑vrata (Moon‑vow).

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given

• सितद्वितीयायाम् (sitadvitīyāyām): on the bright-fortnight second tithi (Śukla-dvitīyā)

• इन्दोः (indoḥ): of Indu/Soma, the Moon

• लवणभाजनम् (lavaṇabhājanam): a vessel/pot of salt

• समान्ते (samānte): at the end/completion (of the vow)

• गोप्रदः (gopradaḥ): giver of a cow (one who donates a cow)

• याति (yāti): goes/approaches

• विप्राय (viprāya): to a brāhmaṇa

• शिवमन्दिरम् (śivamandiram): Śiva’s temple

• कल्पान्ते (kalpānte): at the end of a kalpa/aeon

• राजराजः (rājarājaḥ): king of kings, supreme ruler

• स्यात् (syāt): becomes

• सोमव्रतम् (somavratam): Soma-vow, lunar vow

• इदं (idaṃ): this

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

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in dialogue instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a dharma/vrata teaching sequence)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Indu, the Moon)
• Shiva
• Brahmana (Vipra)

Tags

• Somavrata
• Vrata
• Dana
• Tithi
• Shiva Temple
• Ritual Merit
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it uses the phrase “at the end of the kalpa” to express the long-term karmic fruit of the vow—sovereignty (rājarāja) accrued through ritual gifting and devotion.

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

It prescribes a householder-style dharma practice: observing a lunar-tithi vow, making specific donations (salt vessel, then cow), and honoring a brāhmaṇa at a Śiva temple—actions framed as producing merit and future rulership.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies Śukla-dvitīyā timing and a defined gift-sequence culminating at a Śiva temple; architecturally, it only implies temple-centered worship (śivamandira) rather than giving construction rules.