Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

विप्राणां कर्मदोषैस्तैः प्रजानां जायते भयम् हिंसा मानस्तथेर्ष्या च क्रोधो ऽसूयाक्षमाधृतिः //

Transliteration

viprāṇāṃ karmadoṣaistaiḥ prajānāṃ jāyate bhayam hiṃsā mānastatherṣyā ca krodho 'sūyākṣamādhṛtiḥ //

Translation

From those faults in the actions of the Brahmanas (vipra), fear arises among the people—violence, arrogance, jealousy, anger, malice, lack of forgiveness, and loss of steadiness (self-control).

Word by Word

• विप्राणाम् (viprāṇām): of the Brahmanas

• कर्मदोषैस्तैः (karmadoṣais taiḥ): by those defects/faults in conduct and actions

• प्रजानाम् (prajānām): of the subjects/people

• जायते (jāyate): arises/is born

• भयम् (bhayam): fear

• हिंसा (hiṃsā): violence/injury

• मानः (mānaḥ): pride/arrogance

• तथा (tathā): and likewise

• ईर्ष्या (īrṣyā): jealousy/envy

• च (ca): and

• क्रोधः (krodhaḥ): anger

• असूया (asūyā): malice/censoriousness

• अक्षमाः (akṣamā): unforgivingness/lack of forbearance

• धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ): steadiness/firmness (here: its loss, i.e., instability of mind/self-restraint).

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s teaching on rajadharma and social order; framed as instruction ultimately rooted in the Matsya-Manu discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmanas)
• Prajā (subjects/people)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Social Ethics
• Brahmana Conduct
• Dharma
• Public Order

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic pralaya; it describes a moral “social dissolution,” where public fear arises when religious leaders fall into violence, pride, jealousy, anger, and unforgiving behavior.

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

It implies that rulers and householders must ensure ethical leadership and curb these vices in society—because misconduct among respected teachers (vipras) spreads instability and fear among the people, undermining rajadharma (good governance).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu/temple-rule detail appears here; the ritual takeaway is ethical: rites and religious authority become socially harmful when paired with violence, arrogance, jealousy, anger, malice, and lack of forgiveness.