Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

को नु धर्मो ऽत्र भविता मत्त्यागाद्गतिरेव वा ऊचुस्ते कल्पिता वृत्तिस् तव तात वदस्व तत् //

Transliteration

ko nu dharmo 'tra bhavitā mattyāgādgatireva vā ūcuste kalpitā vṛttis tava tāta vadasva tat //

Translation

Sie sprachen: „Welches dharma wird hier gelten, und welcher Weg der Befreiung (gati) wird es sein, nachdem ich dich aufgegeben habe? Lieber Vater, die Weisen haben für dich eine vorgeschriebene Lebensweise dargelegt; sprich sie aus.“

Word by Word

• ko nu: what indeed?

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteous duty

• atra: here, in this situation

• bhavitā: will be, is to be

• mat-tyāgāt: after abandoning/renouncing me

• gatiḥ eva vā: or else the very path/goal (of deliverance)

• ūcuḥ te: they said to you

• kalpitā: prescribed, laid down

• vṛttiḥ: mode of life, livelihood, conduct

• tava: your

• tāta: dear one/son (term of address)

• vadasva: tell, speak

• tat: that

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (addressing Lord Matsya/Vishnu in the flood-context dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Gati (liberation/path)
• Sages (Rishis)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Dharma
• Matsya-Manu Dialogue
• Renunciation
• Moksha

FAQs

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

It reflects the Pralaya-era spiritual crisis: Manu asks what dharma and “gati” (saving course) remain when he must let go of the immediate support he relied upon, implying guidance is needed for survival and liberation amid cosmic dissolution.

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

The verse frames dharma as situational and rule-governed: even a ruler like Manu must follow a “kalpitā vṛtti” (prescribed conduct) taught by sages, highlighting that governance and household life should align with authoritative ethical and ascetic guidelines when circumstances radically change.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-architecture rule appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is the emphasis on following a sage-prescribed discipline (vṛtti) as the correct procedure for right living and spiritual progress.