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

മൂന്നു ദിവസം പയോവ്രതത്തിൽ നിലകൊണ്ട് സ്വർണ്ണ കല്പവൃക്ഷം ഒരുക്കണം. ശേഷിയനുസരിച്ച് ഒരു പലയിൽ കൂടുതലായി നെയ്യുകലർത്തിയ അരിയാൽ നിറച്ച് ദാനം ചെയ്താൽ ബ്രഹ്മപദം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു; ഇതാണ് ‘കൽപവ്രതം’ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.

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.