Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

त्र्यहं पयोव्रते स्थित्वा काञ्चनं कल्पपादपम् पलादूर्ध्वं यथाशक्त्या तण्डुलैस् तूपसंयुतम् दत्त्वा ब्रह्मपदं याति कल्पव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

tryahaṃ payovrate sthitvā kāñcanaṃ kalpapādapam palādūrdhvaṃ yathāśaktyā taṇḍulais tūpasaṃyutam dattvā brahmapadaṃ yāti kalpavratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

Habiendo observado durante tres días el voto de la leche, debe uno, según su capacidad, ofrecer un árbol kalpa de oro (árbol que cumple los deseos), rellenado—por encima de la medida de un pala—con granos de arroz mezclados con ghee. Con esta dádiva se alcanza el estado o morada de Brahmā; esto se recuerda como el Kalpa-vrata.

Word by Word

• त्र्यहम्: for three days

• पयोव्रते: in the milk-vow (milk-only observance)

• स्थित्वा: having remained/observed

• काञ्चनम्: golden

• कल्पपादपम्: a kalpa-tree, wish-fulfilling tree (ritual model)

• पलात् ऊर्ध्वम्: upward/from the measure of one pala (a small weight/measure) and above

• यथाशक्त्या: according to one’s ability

• तण्डुलैः: with rice-grains

• तूपसंयुतम्: mixed/combined with ghee

• दत्त्वा: having given/offered

• ब्रह्मपदम्: the state/abode of Brahmā (Brahma-loka)

• याति: goes/attains

• कल्पव्रतम्: the Kalpa-vrata

• इदम् स्मृतम्: this is declared/remembered (as such).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma
• Kalpa-pādapa (Kalpa tree)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dāna
• Ritual
• Householder Dharma
• Merit (Puṇya)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it teaches a dharmic vow (payovrata) and a symbolic dāna (kalpa-tree offering) aimed at attaining Brahma-loka.

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

It frames a practical householder/royal duty: disciplined fasting (milk-only for three days) followed by charitable giving according to capacity—presenting dāna as a legitimate path to higher worlds and religious merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual centers on crafting/arranging a ‘golden kalpa-tree’ (a symbolic wish-fulfilling tree) and filling it with rice mixed with ghee measured from a pala upward—indicating a precise dāna-vidhi (procedure and measurement) rather than temple architecture.