Shloka 83

Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows

Devanagari script

दशम्याम् एकभक्ताशी समान्ते दशधेनुदः दिशश्च काञ्चनैर्दद्याद् ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिर्भवेत् एतद् विश्वव्रतं नाम महापातकनाशनम् //

Transliteration

daśamyām ekabhaktāśī samānte daśadhenudaḥ diśaśca kāñcanairdadyād brahmāṇḍādhipatirbhavet etad viśvavrataṃ nāma mahāpātakanāśanam //

Translation

On the tenth lunar day, eating only once, one should at the conclusion make a gift of ten cows and also give gold to the quarters (as offerings to the deities of the directions). He becomes, as it were, a lord over the brahmāṇḍa, the cosmic egg (the universe). This is called the Viśvavrata, the “Universal Vow,” and it destroys even great sins.

Word by Word

• दशम्याम् (daśamyām): on the tenth lunar day (Daśamī)

• एकभक्ताशी (ekabhaktāśī): eating a single meal (once a day)

• समान्ते (samānte): at the end, upon completion

• दशधेनुदः (daśa-dhenu-daḥ): giver of ten cows

• दिशः (diśaḥ): the directions/quarters

• च (ca): and

• काञ्चनैः (kāñcanair): with gold, by means of gold

• दद्याद् (dadyād): should give/should donate

• ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिः (brahmāṇḍādhipatiḥ): lord of the brahmāṇḍa, ruler of the cosmos

• भवेत् (bhavet): becomes

• एतत् (etat): this

• विश्वव्रतम् (viśvavrataṃ): the Universal Vow

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• महापातकनाशनम् (mahāpātaka-nāśanam): destroyer of great sins

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Directions (Dik-devatās)
• Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Prāyaścitta
• Dharma
• Daśamī

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses the cosmological term “brahmāṇḍa” to express the vow’s supreme merit—symbolic ‘lordship over the universe’ as a spiritual reward.

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

It frames household/royal dharma as disciplined observance (ekabhakta on Daśamī) combined with public generosity (dāna of cows and gold), presenting charity and self-restraint as key purificatory duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes a Daśamī vrata with concluding donations, including offerings “to the directions,” reflecting dik-oriented worship common in Vedic-Puranic rites (though not a Vāstu/temple-construction rule in itself).