Shloka 87

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

जातमात्रेष्वपत्येषु ततः कृतमवर्तत यथा स्वर्गे शरीराणि नरके चैव देहिनाम् //

Transliteration

jātamātreṣvapatyeṣu tataḥ kṛtamavartata yathā svarge śarīrāṇi narake caiva dehinām //

Translation

From the very moment offspring are born, the deed (karma) set in motion begins to bear its effect—just as embodied beings obtain bodies in heaven, and likewise in hell.

Word by Word

• जातमात्रेषु (jātamātreṣu): immediately upon being born

• अपत्येषु (apatyeṣu): in offspring/children

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

• कृतम् (kṛtam): what has been done, the deed (karma)

• अवर्तत (avartata): proceeds/comes into operation

• यथा (yathā): just as

• स्वर्गे (svarge): in heaven

• शरीराणि (śarīrāṇi): bodies/forms

• नरके (narake): in hell

• च एव (caiva): and also

• देहिनाम् (dehinām): of embodied beings.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Svarga (Heaven)
• Naraka (Hell)
• Dehin (Embodied being)
• Karma (Kṛta)

Tags

• Karma
• Afterlife
• Svarga-Naraka
• Ethics
• Rebirth

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; it teaches karmic causation—deeds ripen into embodied experience, producing suitable “bodies” for heaven or hell.

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

By asserting that karma begins bearing fruit from birth onward, it underlines why kings and householders must uphold dharma—just governance, charity, restraint, and ritual duty shape future states of experience.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or iconographic rule is stated; the practical ritual takeaway is that right action (and prescribed rites) are meaningful because they generate karmic results that shape one’s post-mortem condition.