Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

कण्डरीको ऽपि धर्मात्मा वेदशास्त्रप्रवर्तकः भूत्वा जातिस्मरौ शोकात् पतिताव् अग्रतस्तदा //

Transliteration

kaṇḍarīko 'pi dharmātmā vedaśāstrapravartakaḥ bhūtvā jātismarau śokāt patitāv agratastadā //

Translation

حتى كَنْدَريكا—ذو النفس التقيّة، والمُشيع لتعاليم الفيدا والـشاسترات المقدّسة—صار ممّن يذكرون الولادات السابقة؛ ومن شدّة الحزن سقط في الحال هناك، أمامهم.

Word by Word

• कण्डरीकः (kaṇḍarīkaḥ): Kaṇḍarīka (a sage/personage)

• अपि (api): even/also

• धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā): righteous-souled, devoted to dharma

• वेदशास्त्र-प्रवर्तकः (vedaśāstra-pravartakaḥ): one who establishes/sets in motion the Veda and śāstric disciplines (teacher/promulgator)

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become

• जाति-स्मरः (jāti-smaraḥ): one who remembers previous births

• शोकात् (śokāt): from grief, due to sorrow

• पतितौ/पतिताव् (patitau/patitāv): fell down (dual/poetic form—sense: fell)

• अग्रतः (agrataḥ): in front, before (others)

• तदा (tadā): then, at that time.

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting events within the Matsya Purana’s narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Kaṇḍarīka
• Veda
• Śāstra

Tags

• Dharma
• Sages
• Jātismara
• Karma
• Purāṇic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights ethical-psychological causality—how grief can precipitate a fall even for a learned, dharmic figure.

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

It implies a dharmic warning relevant to rulers and householders alike: learning and merit must be safeguarded by steadiness of mind; unchecked sorrow can destabilize one’s conduct and status.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its focus is on personal dharma, learning (veda-śāstra), and the moral effects of grief.