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

சதுர்த்தி திதியில் இரவில் மட்டும் உணவு உண்டு, ஆண்டின் முடிவில் பொன்னான யானையைத் தானம் செய்ய வேண்டும். இது ‘வைநாயக விரதம்’ எனப்படும்; சிவலோகப் பெறுபேற்றை அளிக்கும்.

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.