Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 149

Devanagari script

कर्त्रा प्रणीता मर्यादा स्थिता संसारिणामियम् यो जायते हि यद्बीजो जनितुः स ह्यसार्थकः //

Transliteration

kartrā praṇītā maryādā sthitā saṃsāriṇāmiyam yo jāyate hi yadbījo janituḥ sa hyasārthakaḥ //

Translation

Diese vom Schöpfer gesetzte Grenze des rechten Handelns besteht für alle verkörperten Wesen: Denn welches „Saatkorn“ ein Mensch auch zeugt—wird es wider diese Ordnung geboren, so wird die Tat des Zeugenden unerquicklich und vergeblich (ohne wahren Zweck).

Word by Word

• कर्त्रा (kartrā): by the Creator/ordainer

• प्रणीता (praṇītā): laid down, established

• मर्यादा (maryādā): boundary, rule of propriety, moral limit

• स्थिता (sthitā): stands firm, remains

• संसारिणाम् (saṃsāriṇām): of worldly/embodied beings

• इयम् (iyam): this

• यः (yaḥ): which/that (seed/issue)

• जायते (jāyate): is born, comes into being

• हि (hi): indeed

• यद्बीजः (yad-bījaḥ): whatever seed/offspring (that is sown/produced)

• जनितुः (janituḥ): of the begetter/father

• सः (saḥ): that

• हि (hi): indeed

• असार्थकः (asārthakaḥ): purposeless, fruitless, lacking meaningful end

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s didactic dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Creator (Kartar/Brahmā as cosmic ordainer)
• Embodied beings (saṃsārins)

Tags

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Householder ethics
• Progeny
• Social order

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes the Creator-established moral order (maryādā) that governs embodied life in the world.

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

It frames procreation as a dharmic responsibility: a householder (and by extension a king safeguarding social order) should ensure conduct and lineage align with established maryādā, otherwise begetting becomes ‘fruitless’ in its higher purpose.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the verse is ethical-normative, focusing on maryādā (regulated order) rather than ritual procedure or architecture.