Shloka 49
The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga
पुरूरवस एवासीत् त्रयी त्रेतामुखे नृप । अग्निना प्रजया राजा लोकं गान्धर्वमेयिवान् ॥ ४९ ॥
purūravasa evāsīt trayī tretā-mukhe nṛpa agninā prajayā rājā lokaṁ gāndharvam eyivān
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, at the dawn of Tretā-yuga the Trayi—karma-kāṇḍa worship—was set in motion by Purūravā himself. Considering the sacrificial fire his son, the king established the yajña tradition and, with his subjects, attained Gandharvaloka as he desired.
In Satya-yuga, Lord Nārāyaṇa was worshiped by meditation ( kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum ). Indeed, everyone always meditated upon Lord Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa, and achieved every success by this process of meditation. In the next yuga, Tretā-yuga, the performance of yajña began ( tretāyāṁ yajato mukhaiḥ ). Therefore this verse says, trayī tretā-mukhe. Ritualistic ceremonies are generally called fruitive activities. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that in Tretā-yuga, beginning in the Svāyambhuva-manvantara, ritualistic fruitive activities were similarly manifested from Priyavrata, etc.
FAQs
It states that Purūravas uniquely represented the threefold Vedic knowledge (trayī) at Tretā’s dawn and, through sacred fire rites and progeny, attained the Gandharva realm.
Because the verse highlights the classical Vedic path for kings—upholding yajña through sacred fire and sustaining dharma through righteous descendants—leading to elevated destinations.
Honor sacred duty by living responsibly (ethical livelihood, worship, and service) and strengthen future generations through values and spiritual culture—using one’s life to uplift others.