Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

संध्यामौनं ततः कृत्वा समान्ते घृतकुम्भकम् वस्त्रयुग्मं तिलान्घण्टां ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् //

Transliteration

saṃdhyāmaunaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā samānte ghṛtakumbhakam vastrayugmaṃ tilānghaṇṭāṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet //

Translation

सन्ध्यामौनं ततः कृत्वा, समान्ते घृतकुम्भकं वस्त्रयुग्मं तिलैः सह घण्टां च ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्।

Word by Word

• saṃdhyā-maunam: silence (observance of quiet) during the Sandhyā worship

• tataḥ: thereafter

• kṛtvā: having done/observed

• samānte: at the end, upon completion

• ghṛta-kumbhakam: a pot/jar filled with ghee

• vastra-yugmam: a pair of garments/cloths

• tilān: sesame seeds

• ghaṇṭām: a bell

• brāhmaṇāya: to a brāhmaṇa (learned priest)

• nivedayet: should offer/present (as a gift).

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Sandhyā

Tags

• Dharma
• Dāna
• Vrata
• Sandhyā
• Householder

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on daily ritual discipline (Sandhyā) and the merit-bearing act of dāna (gifting) to a brāhmaṇa.

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

It presents a householder-style duty: after completing Sandhyā with disciplined silence, one should conclude with a concrete act of generosity—offering ghee, cloth, sesame, and a bell to a qualified brāhmaṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: Sandhyā is to be completed with mauna (silence) and followed by prescribed dāna items—ghṛta (for offerings/lamps), vastra (ritual purity), tila (piṇḍa/śrāddha and expiatory usage), and ghaṇṭā (temple/ritual bell).