Shloka 53

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

प्रगृहीतायुधैर्विप्रैः शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः स तदा तैः परिवृतो म्लेच्छान्सर्वान् निजघ्निवान् //

Transliteration

pragṛhītāyudhairvipraiḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ sa tadā taiḥ parivṛto mlecchānsarvān nijaghnivān //

Translation

Then, surrounded by Brahmins who had taken up weapons—by the hundreds and even by the thousands—he proceeded at that time to strike down all the mlecchas.

Word by Word

• pragṛhīta-āyudhaiḥ: with weapons seized/taken up

• vipraiḥ: by Brahmins

• śataśaḥ: in hundreds

• atha: then

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands

• sa: he

• tadā: at that time

• taiḥ: by them/with them

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded/encircled

• mlecchān: the mlecchas (foreign/impious aggressors in the text’s idiom)

• sarvān: all

• nijaghnivān: struck down, slew, killed

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) reporting the episode (within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Mlecchas

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Protection
• Social Order
• Conflict
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a dharmic conflict scenario where armed Brahmins assist in eliminating disruptive mleccha forces, emphasizing protection of order rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It reflects the Rajadharma principle that society must be protected from violent disruption; even those normally devoted to ritual learning (vipras) may, in exceptional circumstances, support the restoration of dharma—implying that rulers and communities must prevent adharma from spreading.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu/temple-architecture or specific ritual procedure is stated here; the focus is martial protection and the safeguarding of dharmic society.