Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

माघे मासे ऽथवा चैत्रे गुडधेनुप्रदो भवेत् गुडव्रतस्तृतीयायां गौरीलोके महीयते महाव्रतमिदं नाम परमानन्दकारकम् //

Transliteration

māghe māse 'thavā caitre guḍadhenuprado bhavet guḍavratastṛtīyāyāṃ gaurīloke mahīyate mahāvratamidaṃ nāma paramānandakārakam //

Translation

Pada bulan Māgha—atau pada bulan Caitra—hendaklah seseorang mempersembahkan derma “lembu gula merah” (guḍa-dhenu). Dengan memelihara Guḍa-vrata pada hari tṛtīyā, seseorang dimuliakan di alam Gaurī. Ikrar ini dinamai Mahā-vrata dan menganugerahkan kebahagiaan tertinggi.

Word by Word

• māghe māse: in the month of Māgha

• athavā: or else

• caitre: in (the month of) Caitra

• guḍa-dhenu-pradaḥ: giver of the jaggery-cow donation

• bhavet: should become/should be

• guḍa-vrataḥ: observer of the jaggery vow

• tṛtīyāyām: on the third (lunar day)

• gaurī-loke: in the world/realm of Gaurī (Pārvatī)

• mahīyate: is honored/glorified

• mahā-vratam: great vow

• idaṃ nāma: by this name/this is called

• parama-ānanda-kārakam: producing supreme bliss

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely frame of discourse in this section)

Entities Mentioned

• Gauri (Parvati)

Tags

• Vrata
• Dana
• Tithi
• Gauri
• Puranic Ritual

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse focuses on vrata (vow) and dāna (charitable gifting) rather than cosmology or pralaya narratives.

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

It prescribes a concrete dharmic practice—performing a timed vow (on tṛtīyā) and giving a specific ritual donation (guḍa-dhenu)—reflecting the householder/kingly duty to uphold dharma through regulated charity and observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: the Guḍa-vrata performed in Māgha or Caitra, especially on tṛtīyā, along with the guḍa-dhenu donation, is declared a “Mahā-vrata” leading to honor in Gaurī’s realm and supreme bliss.