Matsya Purana — Chapter 81
MtP 81.1
किम् अभीष्टवियोगशोकसंघादलम् उद्धर्तुमुपोषणं व्रतं वा विभवोद्भवकारि भूतले ऽस्मिन् भवभीतेरपि सूदनं च पुंसः
kim abhīṣṭaviyogaśokasaṃghādalam uddhartumupoṣaṇaṃ vrataṃ vā vibhavodbhavakāri bhūtale 'smin bhavabhīterapi sūdanaṃ ca puṃsaḥ
(Tell me:) what fasting or vow is sufficient, on this earth, to lift a man out of the mass of grief that comes from separation from what is dear, and productive of prosperity, and also a destroyer of the fear of (rebirth/worldly) existence?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 81.2
परिपृष्टमिदं जगत्प्रियं ते विबुधानामपि दुर्लभं महत्त्वात् तव भक्तिमतस्तथापि वक्ष्ये व्रतमिन्द्रासुरमानवेषु गुह्यम्
paripṛṣṭamidaṃ jagatpriyaṃ te vibudhānāmapi durlabhaṃ mahattvāt tava bhaktimatastathāpi vakṣye vratamindrāsuramānaveṣu guhyam
This that you have asked is dear to the world, and hard even for the gods to obtain because of its greatness; nevertheless, since you are devoted, I shall declare to you the vow that is secret among Indra, the asuras, and men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.3
पुण्यमाश्वयुजे मासि विशोकद्वादशीव्रतम् दशम्यां लघुभुग्विद्वान् आरभेन्नियमेन तु
puṇyamāśvayuje māsi viśokadvādaśīvratam daśamyāṃ laghubhugvidvān ārabhenniyamena tu
In the month of Āśvayuja (Āśvina) there is the meritorious vow of the sorrow-free twelfth; the learned man, eating lightly on the tenth, should begin it with due restraint.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.4
उदङ्मुखः प्राङ्मुखो वा दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् एकादश्यां निराहारः समभ्यर्च्य तु केशवम् श्रियं वाभ्यर्च्य विधिवद् भोक्ष्यामि त्वपरे ऽहनि
udaṅmukhaḥ prāṅmukho vā dantadhāvanapūrvakam ekādaśyāṃ nirāhāraḥ samabhyarcya tu keśavam śriyaṃ vābhyarcya vidhivad bhokṣyāmi tvapare 'hani
Facing north or facing east, having first cleaned his teeth, on the eleventh, without food, having duly worshipped Keśava — or having worshipped Śrī according to rule — (he should resolve:) "I shall eat on the next day."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.5
एवं नियमकृत्सुप्त्वा प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः स्नानं सर्वौषधैः कुर्यात् पञ्चगव्यजलेन तु शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरः पूजयेच्छ्रीशमुत्पलैः
evaṃ niyamakṛtsuptvā prātarutthāya mānavaḥ snānaṃ sarvauṣadhaiḥ kuryāt pañcagavyajalena tu śuklamālyāmbaradharaḥ pūjayecchrīśamutpalaiḥ
Having thus made the vow and slept, the man should rise at dawn and bathe with all the herbs and with water mixed with the five products of the cow; wearing white garlands and garments he should worship the Lord of Śrī with blue lotuses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.6
विशोकाय नमः पादौ जङ्घे च वरदाय वै श्रीशाय जानुनी तद्वद् ऊरू च जलशायिने
viśokāya namaḥ pādau jaṅghe ca varadāya vai śrīśāya jānunī tadvad ūrū ca jalaśāyine
"Homage to Viśoka (the sorrowless)" — the feet; and the shanks to Varada; the knees to Śrīśa; and likewise the thighs to him who lies on the water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.7
कन्दर्पाय नमो गुह्यं माधवाय नमः कटिम् दामोदरायेत्युदरं पार्श्वे च विपुलाय वै
kandarpāya namo guhyaṃ mādhavāya namaḥ kaṭim dāmodarāyetyudaraṃ pārśve ca vipulāya vai
"Homage to Kandarpa" — the private parts; "homage to Mādhava" — the hips; "to Dāmodara" — thus the belly; and the sides to Vipula.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.8
नाभिं च पद्मनाभाय हृदयं मन्मथाय वै श्रीधराय विभोर्वक्षः करौ मधुजिते नमः
nābhiṃ ca padmanābhāya hṛdayaṃ manmathāya vai śrīdharāya vibhorvakṣaḥ karau madhujite namaḥ
And the navel to Padmanābha, the heart to Manmatha; the Lord's chest to Śrīdhara, the hands with "homage to the conqueror of Madhu."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.9
चक्रिणे वामबाहुं च दक्षिणं गदिने नमः वैकुण्ठाय नमः कण्ठम् आस्यं यज्ञमुखाय वै
cakriṇe vāmabāhuṃ ca dakṣiṇaṃ gadine namaḥ vaikuṇṭhāya namaḥ kaṇṭham āsyaṃ yajñamukhāya vai
The left arm to the Discus-bearer, and the right with "homage to the Mace-bearer"; "homage to Vaikuṇṭha" — the throat; the mouth to Yajñamukha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.10
नासामशोकनिधये वासुदेवाय चाक्षिणी ललाटं वामनायेति हरये च पुनर्भ्रुवौ
nāsāmaśokanidhaye vāsudevāya cākṣiṇī lalāṭaṃ vāmanāyeti haraye ca punarbhruvau
The nose to Aśokanidhi, and the two eyes to Vāsudeva; the forehead with "to Vāmana," and again the brows to Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.11
अलकान्माधवायेति किरीटं विश्वरूपिणे नमः सर्वात्मने तद्वच् छिर इत्यभिपूजयेत्
alakānmādhavāyeti kirīṭaṃ viśvarūpiṇe namaḥ sarvātmane tadvac chira ityabhipūjayet
The curling locks with "to Mādhava," the crown to him whose form is the universe; likewise "homage to the Self of all" — the head: thus he should worship (him).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.12
एवं सम्पूज्य गोविन्दं फलमाल्यानुलेपनैः ततस्तु मण्डलं कृत्वा स्थण्डिलं कारयेन्मुदा
evaṃ sampūjya govindaṃ phalamālyānulepanaiḥ tatastu maṇḍalaṃ kṛtvā sthaṇḍilaṃ kārayenmudā
Having thus worshipped Govinda with fruits, garlands and ointments, he should then make a circle and gladly have an altar-ground prepared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.13
चतुरस्रं समन्ताच्च रत्निमात्रमुदक्प्लवम् श्लक्ष्णं हृद्यं च परितो वप्रत्रयसमावृतम्
caturasraṃ samantācca ratnimātramudakplavam ślakṣṇaṃ hṛdyaṃ ca parito vapratrayasamāvṛtam
(The altar should be) square, one ratni (a cubit-span) on every side, sloping so that water runs off, smooth and pleasing, and surrounded on all sides by three ridges (embankments).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.14
अङ्गुलेनोच्छ्रिता वप्रास् तद्विस्तारस्तु द्व्यङ्गुलः स्थण्डिलस्योपरिष्टाच्च भित्तिरष्टाङ्गुला भवेत्
aṅgulenocchritā vaprās tadvistārastu dvyaṅgulaḥ sthaṇḍilasyopariṣṭācca bhittiraṣṭāṅgulā bhavet
The ridges are raised by one finger's breadth, and their width is two fingers; and above the altar the wall should be eight fingers (high).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.15
नदीवालुकया शूर्पे लक्ष्म्याः प्रतिकृतिं न्यसेत् स्थण्डिले शूर्पमारोप्य लक्ष्मीमित्यर्चयेद्बुधः
nadīvālukayā śūrpe lakṣmyāḥ pratikṛtiṃ nyaset sthaṇḍile śūrpamāropya lakṣmīmityarcayedbudhaḥ
With river sand he should set down an image of Lakṣmī on a winnowing basket; having placed the basket on the altar, the wise man should worship her thus as Lakṣmī:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.16
नमो देव्यै नमः शान्त्यै नमो लक्ष्म्यै नमः श्रियै नमः पुष्ट्यै नमस्तुष्ट्यै वृष्ट्यै हृष्ट्यै नमो नमः
namo devyai namaḥ śāntyai namo lakṣmyai namaḥ śriyai namaḥ puṣṭyai namastuṣṭyai vṛṣṭyai hṛṣṭyai namo namaḥ
"Homage to the Goddess, homage to Śānti (Peace), homage to Lakṣmī, homage to Śrī; homage to Puṣṭi (Prosperity), homage to Tuṣṭi (Contentment), homage, homage to Vṛṣṭi (Rain) and to Hṛṣṭi (Gladness).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.17
विशोका दुःखनाशाय विशोका वरदास्तु मे विशोका चास्तु सम्पत्त्यै विशोका सर्वसिद्धये
viśokā duḥkhanāśāya viśokā varadāstu me viśokā cāstu sampattyai viśokā sarvasiddhaye
May the Sorrowless One (be) for the destruction of pain; may the Sorrowless One be a granter of boons to me; may the Sorrowless One be for wealth; may the Sorrowless One be for all attainment."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.18
ततः शुक्लाम्बरैः शूर्पं वेष्ट्य सम्पूजयेत्फलैः वस्त्रैर्नानाविधैस्तद्वत् सुवर्णकमलेन च
tataḥ śuklāmbaraiḥ śūrpaṃ veṣṭya sampūjayetphalaiḥ vastrairnānāvidhaistadvat suvarṇakamalena ca
Then, having wrapped the winnowing basket in white garments, he should worship (it) with fruits, likewise with various cloths, and with a golden lotus.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.19
रजनीषु च सर्वासु पिबेद्दर्भोदकं बुधः ततस्तु गीतनृत्यादि कारयेत्सकलां निशाम्
rajanīṣu ca sarvāsu pibeddarbhodakaṃ budhaḥ tatastu gītanṛtyādi kārayetsakalāṃ niśām
And on all the nights the wise man should drink water (infused) with darbha grass; then he should have singing, dancing and the rest performed the whole night through.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.20
यामत्रये व्यतीते तु सुप्त्वाप्युत्थाय मानवः अभिगम्य च विप्राणां मिथुनानि तदार्चयेत्
yāmatraye vyatīte tu suptvāpyutthāya mānavaḥ abhigamya ca viprāṇāṃ mithunāni tadārcayet
But when three watches have passed, the man, having slept and then risen, should approach and worship couples of brahmins,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.21
शक्तितस् त्रीणि चैकं वा वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनैः शयनस्थानि पूज्यानि नमो ऽस्तु जलशायिने
śaktitas trīṇi caikaṃ vā vastramālyānulepanaiḥ śayanasthāni pūjyāni namo 'stu jalaśāyine
three of them according to his means, or one, with cloth, garlands and unguents; they are to be worshipped as seated on a bed (with the words) "Homage to him who lies upon the waters."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.22
ततस्तु गीतवाद्येन रात्रौ जागरणे कृते प्रभाते च ततः स्नानं कृत्वा दाम्पत्यमर्चयेत्
tatastu gītavādyena rātrau jāgaraṇe kṛte prabhāte ca tataḥ snānaṃ kṛtvā dāmpatyamarcayet
Then, when the night-vigil has been kept with song and instrumental music, and at dawn, having bathed, he should worship the married pair;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.23
भोजनं च यथाशक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः भुक्त्वा श्रुत्वा पुराणानि तद्दिनं चातिवाहयेत्
bhojanaṃ ca yathāśaktyā vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ bhuktvā śrutvā purāṇāni taddinaṃ cātivāhayet
and (give them) food according to his ability, free from stinginess with wealth; having eaten and heard the Purāṇas, he should pass that day.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.24
अनेन विधिना सर्वं मासि मासि समाचरेत् व्रतान्ते शयनं दद्याद् गुडधेनुसमन्वितम् सोपधानकविश्रामं सास्तरावरणं शुभम्
anena vidhinā sarvaṃ māsi māsi samācaret vratānte śayanaṃ dadyād guḍadhenusamanvitam sopadhānakaviśrāmaṃ sāstarāvaraṇaṃ śubham
By this rule he should perform everything month by month; at the end of the vow he should give a bed together with a cow (made) of molasses—an auspicious one, with pillow and bolster, with coverlet and spread.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.25
यथा न लक्ष्मीर्देवेश त्वां परित्यज्य गच्छति तथा सुरूपतारोग्यम् अशोकश्चास्तु मे सदा
yathā na lakṣmīrdeveśa tvāṃ parityajya gacchati tathā surūpatārogyam aśokaścāstu me sadā
"As Lakṣmī, O Lord of gods, does not go away forsaking you, so may beauty of form, health, and freedom from sorrow always be mine.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.26
यथा देवेन रहिता न लक्ष्मीर्जायते क्वचित् तथा विशोकता मे ऽस्तु भक्तिरग्र्या च केशवे
yathā devena rahitā na lakṣmīrjāyate kvacit tathā viśokatā me 'stu bhaktiragryā ca keśave
As Lakṣmī is never born apart from the God, so may I have freedom from sorrow, and foremost devotion to Keśava."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.27
मन्त्रेणानेन शयनं गुडधेनुसमन्वितम् शूर्पं च लक्ष्म्या सहितं दातव्यं भूतिमिच्छता
mantreṇānena śayanaṃ guḍadhenusamanvitam śūrpaṃ ca lakṣmyā sahitaṃ dātavyaṃ bhūtimicchatā
With this mantra the bed together with the molasses-cow, and the winnowing basket together with (the image of) Lakṣmī, is to be given by one who desires prosperity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 81.28
उत्पलं करवीरं च बाणमम्लानकुङ्कुमम् केतकी सिन्दुवारं च मल्लिका गन्धपाटला कदम्बं कुब्जकं जातिः शस्तान्येतानि सर्वदा
utpalaṃ karavīraṃ ca bāṇamamlānakuṅkumam ketakī sinduvāraṃ ca mallikā gandhapāṭalā kadambaṃ kubjakaṃ jātiḥ śastānyetāni sarvadā
Blue lotus, oleander, bāṇa (barleria), unfading (flowers), saffron, ketakī, sinduvāra, jasmine, fragrant pāṭalā, kadamba, kubjaka (a rose), and jāti-jasmine—these are always commended.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition