Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

चतुर्थ्यां नक्तभुग्दद्याद् अब्दान्ते हेमवारणम् व्रतं वैनायकं नाम शिवलोकफलप्रदम् //

Transliteration

caturthyāṃ naktabhugdadyād abdānte hemavāraṇam vrataṃ vaināyakaṃ nāma śivalokaphalapradam //

Translation

Pada hari bulan keempat, hendaklah seseorang makan hanya pada waktu malam dan pada akhir setahun mendermakan seekor gajah emas. Ikrar ini dinamakan Vaināyaka Vrata dan mengurniakan hasil mencapai alam Śiva.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थ्यां (caturthyām): on the fourth lunar day (Caturthī)

• नक्तभुक् (naktabhuk): one who eats at night only

• दद्याद् (dadyāt): should give/donate

• अब्दान्ते (abdānte): at the end of the year

• हेम-वारणम् (hema-vāraṇam): a golden elephant

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow/observance

• वैनायकम् (vaināyakam): pertaining to Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• शिव-लोक (śiva-loka): Śiva’s world/realm

• फल-प्रदम् (phala-pradam): bestowing the fruit/result

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• Śiva
• Śivaloka

Tags

• Vrata
• Dharma
• Donation (Dāna)
• Gaṇeśa worship
• Śiva-loka

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on vrata-dharma—an annual observance linked to Vināyaka and the promised posthumous attainment of Śivaloka.

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

It presents a householder-style discipline: regulated eating (night-only on Caturthī) and a major end-of-year gift (golden elephant), reflecting the Purāṇic ideal that wealth and self-restraint should be directed toward meritorious dāna and religious vows.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes the Vaināyaka Vrata—Caturthī night-only diet and a yearly donation—aimed at earning the fruit of Śiva’s realm.