Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

स हत्वा सर्वशश्चैव राजानः शूद्रयोनयः पाषण्डान्स सदा सर्वान् निःशेषानकरोत्प्रभुः //

Transliteration

sa hatvā sarvaśaścaiva rājānaḥ śūdrayonayaḥ pāṣaṇḍānsa sadā sarvān niḥśeṣānakarotprabhuḥ //

Translation

Having slain, in every way, the kings born of Śūdra lineage, that mighty lord also always exterminated all the pāṣaṇḍas (heretical, anti-Vedic sectarians) without remainder.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he

• hatvā: having slain/killed

• sarvaśaḥ: entirely, on all sides, in every way

• ca eva: and indeed

• rājānaḥ: kings

• śūdra-yonayaḥ: those born in Śūdra womb/lineage

• pāṣaṇḍān: pāṣaṇḍas, heretics/sectarians opposed to Vedic dharma

• saḥ: he

• sadā: always

• sarvān: all

• niḥśeṣān: without remainder, completely

• akarot: made/did (i.e., rendered them destroyed)

• prabhuḥ: the powerful lord/ruler.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing a powerful ruler's dharma-driven campaign (Rajadharma context)

Entities Mentioned

• rājānaḥ (kings)
• śūdra-yonayaḥ (Śūdra-born)
• pāṣaṇḍa (heretics/anti-Vedic sectarians)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Danda-niti
• Dharma protection
• Heresy suppression
• Kingship ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on rajadharma—how a ruler uses force to remove threats to dharma and social order.

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

It presents an extreme rajadharma stance: the king, as wielder of daṇḍa (punitive power), is portrayed as eliminating rival kings and pāṣaṇḍas seen as destabilizing dharma; the broader ethical frame is protection of order through enforcement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu/temple-building or ritual procedure is mentioned; the content is political-ethical (governance and suppression of adharma).