Matsya Purana — Vrata-Ṣaṣṭhī: The Sixty Sacred Vows, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

विप्राय दद्याच्छङ्खं च स पदं याति शांकरम् राजा भवति कल्पान्ते धृतिव्रतमिदं स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

viprāya dadyācchaṅkhaṃ ca sa padaṃ yāti śāṃkaram rājā bhavati kalpānte dhṛtivratamidaṃ smṛtam //

Translation

若以法螺（śaṅkha）施与婆罗门，则得至商羯罗（Śaṅkara）之位；并于劫（kalpa）终时成为国王。此誓名为“持忍誓”（Dhṛti-vrata，坚忍之誓），为传统所记。

Word by Word

• विप्राय (viprāya): to a brāhmaṇa

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): should give

• शङ्खम् (śaṅkham): a conch-shell

• च (ca): and

• स (sa): he/that person

• पदम् (padam): state, abode, rank

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• शांकरम् (śāṅkaram): belonging to Śaṅkara (Śiva), Śiva’s state

• राजा (rājā): king

• भवति (bhavati): becomes

• कल्पान्ते (kalpānte): at the end of a kalpa/aeon

• धृतिव्रतम् (dhṛti-vratam): the vow named Dhṛti (steadfastness/fortitude)

• इदम् (idam): this

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is remembered/declared (in tradition).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this dāna/vow section)

Entities Mentioned

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Śaṅkha (Conch)

Tags

• Dāna
• Vrata
• Rajadharma
• Punya
• Ritual Objects

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it uses the long cosmic time-marker “kalpānta” (end of an aeon) to state the delayed fruition of merit from dāna—culminating in kingship in a future cycle.

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

It frames dāna as a concrete dharmic duty: gifting a ritually significant object (a conch) to a brāhmaṇa is presented as a vrata with both spiritual reward (Śiva’s station) and worldly reward (future kingship), aligning household and royal ethics with generosity and patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the śaṅkha, a sacred implement used in pūjā and temple rites (auspicious proclamation and consecratory sound); donating such a liturgical object is treated as a high-merit act within Purāṇic ritual culture.