Matsya Purana — The Viśokā-Saptamī Vow, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

माघे कृष्णतिलैः स्नात्वा षष्ठ्यां वै शुक्लपक्षतः कृताहारः कृसरया दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् उपवासव्रतं कृत्वा ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्निशि //

Transliteration

māghe kṛṣṇatilaiḥ snātvā ṣaṣṭhyāṃ vai śuklapakṣataḥ kṛtāhāraḥ kṛsarayā dantadhāvanapūrvakam upavāsavrataṃ kṛtvā brahmacārī bhavenniśi //

Translation

Au mois de Māgha, après s’être baigné avec de l’eau mêlée de sésame noir (kṛṣṇa-tila), le sixième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire, qu’il se nettoie d’abord les dents puis ne prenne pour nourriture que la kṛsarā (mets simple de riz et de légumineuses). Ensuite, ayant assumé le vœu de jeûne (upavāsa-vrata), qu’il observe la nuit le brahmacarya (continence et retenue).

Word by Word

• māghe: in the month of Māgha

• kṛṣṇatilaiḥ: with black sesame (kṛṣṇa-tila), i.e., sesame-infused bathing

• snātvā: having bathed

• ṣaṣṭhyām: on the sixth lunar day (Ṣaṣṭhī)

• vai: indeed

• śuklapakṣataḥ: in the bright fortnight (waxing phase)

• kṛtāhāraḥ: having taken food / having eaten

• kṛsarayā: with kṛsarā (a simple cooked mixture of rice and pulses)

• dantadhāvanapūrvakam: preceded by cleaning the teeth

• upavāsavrataṃ: the vow of fasting

• kṛtvā: having performed/undertaken

• brahmacārī: one observing brahmacarya (celibate discipline)

• bhavet: should be

• niśi: at night.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a vrata-dharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Māgha
• Kṛṣṇa-tila
• Ṣaṣṭhī
• Śukla-pakṣa
• Kṛsarā
• Upavāsa
• Brahmacarya

Tags

• Vrata
• Upavasa
• Magha Snana
• Ritual Purification
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a Māgha-month religious observance (bathing, regulated food, fasting, and night-time brahmacarya) as a means of purification and merit.

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

It frames dharma as disciplined self-restraint: even householders (and rulers) are encouraged to adopt periodic fasting, purity practices, and sexual restraint on vrata days to cultivate self-control and religious merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): Māgha snāna with black sesame, eating only kṛsarā after tooth-cleaning, undertaking upavāsa, and observing brahmacarya at night are given as the procedural steps of the vow.