Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Brahmā–Gāyatrī as a Divine Pair and the Early Genealogies of Creation

Devanagari script

पितृकन्या सुनीथा तु वेनमङ्गादजीजनत् वेनमन्यायिनं विप्रा ममन्थुस् तत्कराद् अभूत् पृथुर्नाम महातेजाः स पुत्रौ द्वाव् अजीजनत् //

Transliteration

pitṛkanyā sunīthā tu venamaṅgādajījanat venamanyāyinaṃ viprā mamanthus tatkarād abhūt pṛthurnāma mahātejāḥ sa putrau dvāv ajījanat //

Translation

Sunīthā, the daughter of Pitṛ (Yama), bore Vena by King Aṅga. When that unrighteous Vena was churned by the sages, from his hand there arose the greatly radiant one named Pṛthu; and he in turn begot two sons.

Word by Word

• पितृकन्या (pitṛkanyā): daughter of Pitṛ/Yama

• सुनीथा (sunīthā): Sunīthā (proper name)

• तु (tu): indeed

• वेनम् (venam): Vena

• अङ्गात् (aṅgāt): from Aṅga / by King Aṅga

• अजीजनत् (ajījanat): gave birth to

• वेनम् (venam): Vena

• अन्यायिनम् (anyāyinam): unrighteous, unjust

• विप्राः (viprāḥ): brahmin sages

• ममन्थुः (mamanthuḥ): churned/produced by churning (ritual/figurative extraction)

• तत्करात् (tat-karāt): from his hand

• अभूत् (abhūt): there arose/was produced

• पृथुः (pṛthuḥ): Pṛthu (proper name)

• नाम (nāma): named

• महातेजाः (mahā-tejāḥ): of great splendor/energy

• सः (saḥ): he

• पुत्रौ (putrau): two sons

• द्वौ (dvau): two

• अजीजनत् (ajījanat): begot/produced

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Sunīthā
• Pitṛ (Yama)
• Aṅga
• Vena
• Vipras (sages)
• Pṛthu

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Kingship
• Dharma
• Puranic history

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the dynasty narrative, showing how an unrighteous king (Vena) is removed and a righteous ruler (Pṛthu) is produced for restoring order.

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

It frames kingship as a moral office: adharma in a ruler leads to corrective action by the guardians of dharma (sages), while a worthy king like Pṛthu is portrayed as the restorer of righteous governance and social stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse; the only ritual-like motif is the sages “churning” Vena, a symbolic act of extracting a new, dharmic sovereign from a corrupted kingship.