Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

विसृज्य ब्राह्मणं तं च वृद्धं धनमुदान्वितम् आत्मीयं नृपतिः पुत्रं नृपलक्षणसंयुतम् //

Transliteration

visṛjya brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ ca vṛddhaṃ dhanamudānvitam ātmīyaṃ nṛpatiḥ putraṃ nṛpalakṣaṇasaṃyutam //

Translation

Nachdem er jenen betagten Brāhmaṇa, mit Reichtum ausgestattet, entlassen hatte, sandte der König sodann seinen eigenen Sohn aus, der die Kennzeichen und Eigenschaften der Königswürde besaß.

Word by Word

• visṛjya: having dismissed/sent away

• brāhmaṇam: the brāhmaṇa

• tam: that (person)

• ca: and

• vṛddham: aged/elderly

• dhana-mudā-anvitam: endowed with wealth and gladness (prosperity/joy)

• ātmīyam: his own

• nṛpatiḥ: the king

• putram: son

• nṛpa-lakṣaṇa-saṃyutam: endowed with the characteristics/signs of a ruler

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice within the Purāṇic frame), recounting a royal episode

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Nṛpati (King)
• Putra (Prince)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Succession
• Kingship
• Dynasties
• Nṛpa-lakṣaṇa

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on a royal action—honoring/dismissing an elderly brāhmaṇa and advancing a qualified prince—within a kingship and succession narrative.

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

It reflects rajadharma: the king shows proper conduct toward brāhmaṇas (respectful dismissal after due consideration) and ensures stable governance by putting forward a son who possesses nṛpa-lakṣaṇa—recognized qualifications for rulership rather than mere birthright.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-ritual detail appears in this verse; its technical focus is political-ethical—nṛpa-lakṣaṇa (royal marks/qualifications) and orderly succession.