Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

पर्यायेण तु सर्वेषाम् आधिपत्यं कथं भवेत् इह लोके शुभं रूपम् आयुः सौभाग्यमेव च लक्ष्मीश्च विपुला नाथ कथं स्यात्पुरसूदन //

Transliteration

paryāyeṇa tu sarveṣām ādhipatyaṃ kathaṃ bhavet iha loke śubhaṃ rūpam āyuḥ saubhāgyameva ca lakṣmīśca vipulā nātha kathaṃ syātpurasūdana //

Translation

How, in due order, can sovereignty come to all? And in this world, O Lord—O slayer of cities—how may one obtain auspicious beauty, long life, good fortune, and abundant Lakṣmī (prosperity)?

Word by Word

• पर्यायेण (paryāyeṇa): in due turn/sequence

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām): of all

• आधिपत्यम् (ādhipatyam): lordship/sovereignty

• कथम् (katham): how

• भवेत् (bhavet): may happen/come to be

• इह (iha): here

• लोके (loke): in the world

• शुभम् (śubham): auspicious

• रूपम् (rūpam): form/beauty

• आयुः (āyuḥ): lifespan

• सौभाग्यम् (saubhāgyam): good fortune

• एव (eva): indeed

• च (ca): and

• लक्ष्मीः (lakṣmīḥ): Lakshmi/prosperity

• विपुला (vipulā): abundant/great

• नाथ (nātha): O lord/protector

• कथम् (katham): how

• स्यात् (syāt): may be

• पुरसूदन (purasūdana): O destroyer of cities (epithet of Vishnu).

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (questioning Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Lord Matsya (Vishnu)
• Lakshmi

Tags

• Dharma
• Royal Prosperity
• Lakshmi
• Auspiciousness
• Kingship

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it is a petition to Lord Matsya/Vishnu about worldly welfare—sovereignty, auspicious qualities, longevity, and prosperity.

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

It frames prosperity as something to be learned through dharma: Manu asks how rulership and well-being arise for people, setting up teachings on right conduct, merit, and governance that sustain fortune.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears in this verse; it functions as an introductory question that can lead into prescriptive dharmic or ritual means for attaining auspiciousness and Lakṣmī.