Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

आषाढादिव्रतं यस्तु वर्जयेन्नखकर्तनम् वार्ताकं च चतुर्मासं मधुसर्पिर्घटान्वितम् //

Transliteration

āṣāḍhādivrataṃ yastu varjayennakhakartanam vārtākaṃ ca caturmāsaṃ madhusarpirghaṭānvitam //

Translation

Ang sinumang tumutupad ng panatang nagsisimula sa buwan ng Āṣāḍha ay dapat umiwas sa pagputol ng mga kuko; at sa loob ng apat na buwan ng Caturmāsa ay umiwas din sa vārtāka (talong), habang pinananatili ang panata na may handog na pulot at ghee na inilalagay sa mga sisidlan.

Word by Word

• āṣāḍha-ādi-vratam: the vow starting from the month of Āṣāḍha

• yaḥ tu: whoever indeed

• varjayet: should avoid/refrain from

• nakha-kartanam: cutting of nails

• vārtākam: vārtāka, brinjal/eggplant (a restricted food item)

• ca: and

• caturmāsam: for the four-month sacred period (Caturmāsa)

• madhu: honey

• sarpiḥ: ghee/clarified butter

• ghaṭa-anvitam: accompanied with pots/jars (i.e., kept or offered in vessels, part of the observance).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Āṣāḍha
• Caturmāsa
• madhu (honey)
• sarpiḥ (ghee)
• ghaṭa (ritual pot)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Caturmāsa
• Āhāra-niyama
• Ritual offerings

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a Dharma-oriented instruction on Caturmāsa vow-discipline, emphasizing bodily restraint and regulated diet as part of religious observance.

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

It frames household/royal conduct around self-restraint during Caturmāsa: avoiding nail-cutting and certain foods, and sustaining devotional offerings (honey and ghee). Such discipline is presented as a model of dharmic living and public exemplarity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual element is the use of ghaṭas (pots/jars) associated with madhu and sarpiḥ—indicative of prescribed offering materials and vessel-based ritual setup during the vow, rather than Vāstu or temple-construction rules.