Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

तत्प्रसादात्प्रभायुक्तं स्थावरैर्जङ्गमैस्तथा हिंसन्ति हि न चान्योन्यं हिंसकास्तु परस्परम् //

Transliteration

tatprasādātprabhāyuktaṃ sthāvarairjaṅgamaistathā hiṃsanti hi na cānyonyaṃ hiṃsakāstu parasparam //

Translation

Durch seine Gnade sind alle Wesen mit leuchtender Kraft begabt; so verletzen sich Unbewegtes und Bewegtes nicht gegenseitig—vielmehr schaden nur die Gewalttätigen einander.

Word by Word

• tat-prasādāt: by his grace

• prabhā-yuktam: endowed with radiance/power

• sthāvaraiḥ: by/among immobile beings (plants, fixed creatures)

• jaṅgamaiḥ tathā: and likewise by/among moving beings (animals, humans)

• hiṃsanti: they injure

• hi: indeed

• na ca anyonyam: not one another

• hiṃsakāḥ tu: but the violent/cruel

• parasparam: one another (mutually).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• sthāvara (immobile beings)
• jaṅgama (mobile beings)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ahimsa
• Cosmic Order
• Divine Grace
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It points to a divinely sustained cosmic order: harmony among beings is maintained by divine grace, while disorder manifests where violence dominates—an ethical lens often used in Puranas to explain why chaos increases in dark times.

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

It supports the dharmic duty to restrain cruelty: a king should curb हिंसा (violence) through just governance, and a householder should practice non-injury and self-control, since violence breeds reciprocal conflict among the violent.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is ethical—ritual purity and sacred works (including temple-building) are traditionally grounded in अहिंसा and the maintenance of harmonious order.