Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

वासांसि च पिशङ्गानि जलकुम्भयुतानि च स याति वैष्णवं लोकं पितॄणां तारयेच्छतम् कल्पान्ते राजराजः स्यात् पितृव्रतम् इदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

vāsāṃsi ca piśaṅgāni jalakumbhayutāni ca sa yāti vaiṣṇavaṃ lokaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tārayecchatam kalpānte rājarājaḥ syāt pitṛvratam idaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

పిశంగ (పసుపు-గోధుమ) వర్ణ వస్త్రాలను జలకుంభాలతో కలిసి దానం చేసే వాడు వైష్ణవ లోకాన్ని పొందుతాడు; తన పితృలలో వంద మందిని తరింపజేస్తాడు. కల్పాంతంలో రాజరాజుడవుతాడు—ఇదే ‘పితృవ్రతం’ అని స్మృతిలో చెప్పబడింది.

Word by Word

• vāsāṃsi: garments/clothing

• ca: and

• piśaṅgāni: tawny, yellow-brown, pale-reddish (hued)

• jalakumbha-yutāni: accompanied by water-pots (kumbhas filled for gifting/rite)

• saḥ: he

• yāti: goes/attains

• vaiṣṇavam lokam: the realm of Viṣṇu (Vaikuṇṭha)

• pitṝṇām: of the ancestors/manes

• tārayet: would deliver/carry across

• chatam: a hundred

• kalpa-ante: at the end of a kalpa/aeon

• rāja-rājaḥ: king of kings/emperor

• syāt: becomes

• pitṛ-vratam: vow/observance dedicated to ancestors

• idam: this

• smṛtam: is remembered/declared (as authoritative tradition).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on dharma and vratas

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu (Vaiṣṇava-loka)
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)

Tags

• Pitru Vrata
• Dāna (Charity)
• Ancestor Rites
• Vaikuntha
• Phala-śruti (Merit Statement)

FAQs

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

It references the cosmic cycle indirectly—“at the end of the kalpa”—to state the long-range karmic result of the vow, not to describe pralaya events themselves.

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

It frames pitṛ-rites as a dharmic obligation fulfilled through dāna (gifting garments and ritual water-pots), promising both spiritual uplift (attaining Vishnu’s realm) and worldly sovereignty (becoming a king of kings).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual detail is dāna-centered: gifting specific items—tawny garments and jalakumbhas—used in ancestor-oriented observances; it highlights prescribed materials and offerings rather than temple architecture.