Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

चैत्रादिचतुरो मासाञ् जलं दद्यादयाचितम् व्रतान्ते मणिकं दद्याद् अन्नवस्त्रसमन्वितम् //

Transliteration

caitrādicaturo māsāñ jalaṃ dadyādayācitam vratānte maṇikaṃ dadyād annavastrasamanvitam //

Translation

चैत्रादिमासारभ्य चतुर्मासपर्यन्तं जलं याचितमपि विना स्वयमेव दद्यात्। व्रतसमाप्तौ मणिं अन्नवस्त्रसमेतं दद्यात्॥

Word by Word

• caitra-ādi: beginning with Caitra

• caturāḥ māsān: four months

• jalam: water

• dadyāt: one should give

• ayācitam: unasked, unsolicited

• vrata-ante: at the end of the vow

• maṇikam: a gem/jewel

• dadyāt: one should give

• anna: food/grain

• vastra: clothing

• samanvitam: accompanied by, together with

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this Matsya Purana discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Caitra
• Vrata
• Dāna

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Dāna
• Householder Duties
• Ritual Charity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharma through vrata-observance and charitable giving (dāna), especially the merit of freely offering water.

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

It frames a practical dharma-duty: during a seasonal four-month observance starting in Caitra, one should provide water proactively (without being asked), and conclude the vow with formal gifts—gem, food, and clothing—reflecting the householder/royal obligation to sustain others through generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it prescribes a vrata-cycle (four months) and its completion rite (vratānta-dāna), emphasizing ayācita-dāna (unsolicited charity) and concluding offerings (gem + food + clothing).