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

மாசி (மா஘) அல்லது சித்திரை (சைத்ர) மாதத்தில் ‘கற்கண்டு/வெல்லம்-தேனு’ (வெல்லத்தால் அமைந்த தானப் பசு) தானம் செய்ய வேண்டும்; திருதியைத் திதியில் குட/வெல்ல விரதம் செய்தால் கௌரீலோகத்தில் மதிக்கப்படுவான். இது மகாவ்ரதம் எனப்படும்; பரமானந்தம் அளிப்பது.

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.