Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Duties of the Four Āśramas and the Power of Mauna

Devanagari script

*अष्टक उवाच चरन्गृहस्थः कथमेति देवान् कथं भिक्षुः कथम् आचार्यकर्मा वानप्रस्थः सत्पथे संनिविष्टो बहून्यस्मिन् सम्प्रति वेदयन्ति //

Transliteration

*aṣṭaka uvāca carangṛhasthaḥ kathameti devān kathaṃ bhikṣuḥ katham ācāryakarmā vānaprasthaḥ satpathe saṃniviṣṭo bahūnyasmin samprati vedayanti //

Translation

Aṣṭaka said: “How does a householder, while living an active worldly life, attain the gods? How does a mendicant (bhikṣu) attain them? How does one devoted to a teacher’s discipline and duties (ācārya-karman) attain them? And how does a forest-dweller (vānaprastha), firmly established on the good path, attain that goal? In this matter, many differing views are taught even now.”

Word by Word

• अष्टक (aṣṭaka): Aṣṭaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• चरन् (caraṅ): moving about, living actively

• गृहस्थः (gṛhasthaḥ): the householder

• कथम् (katham): how?

• एति (eti): goes/attains

• देवान् (devān): the gods, divine worlds

• कथं (kathaṃ): how?

• भिक्षुः (bhikṣuḥ): mendicant, renunciant who lives on alms

• कथम् (katham): how?

• आचार्यकर्मा (ācārya-karmā): one engaged in the duties/discipline connected with a teacher (brahmacarya and service to the guru)

• वानप्रस्थः (vānaprasthaḥ): forest-dweller (third āśrama)

• सत्पथे (sat-pathe): on the good/right path

• संनिविष्टः (saṃniviṣṭaḥ): firmly established, settled

• बहूनि (bahūni): many (teachings/opinions)

• अस्मिन् (asmin): in this (topic)

• सम्प्रति (samprati): at present, even now

• वेदयन्ति (vedayanti): teach, make known, expound

Speaker

• Aṣṭaka

Entities Mentioned

• Aṣṭaka
• Gṛhastha (householder)
• Bhikṣu (mendicant)
• Ācārya (teacher/guru)
• Vānaprastha (forest-dweller)
• Devas (gods)

Tags

• Ashrama Dharma
• Grihastha Duties
• Renunciation
• Sadachara
• Moksha Path

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it frames a dharma inquiry about how different life-stages (āśramas) lead to divine attainment, indicating the Purana’s ethical focus here rather than cosmology.

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

It highlights the central question of gṛhastha-dharma: how an active householder can still reach divine worlds through right conduct, ritual obligation, charity, and disciplined living—principles that also underpin righteous kingship in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears in this verse; the closest ritual implication is the broader concern with āśrama-based duties (such as household rites and disciplined conduct) as recognized means toward spiritual and heavenly goals.