Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Dynastic Genealogies: Paurava–Anu Lines

Devanagari script

तेषां जनपदाः स्फीताः केकया भद्रकास्तथा सौवीराश्चैव पौराश्च नृगस्य केकयास्तथा //

Transliteration

teṣāṃ janapadāḥ sphītāḥ kekayā bhadrakāstathā sauvīrāścaiva paurāśca nṛgasya kekayāstathā //

Translation

Among their territories were flourishing realms—Kekaya and Bhadraka, as well as Sauvīra and Paurava; and likewise (there were) the Kekayas connected with King Nṛga.

Word by Word

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of them/among them

• जनपदाः (janapadāḥ): territories, realms, countries

• स्फीताः (sphītāḥ): prosperous, flourishing, well-established

• केकयाः (kekayāḥ): the Kekaya people/kingdom

• भद्रकाः (bhadrakāḥ): the Bhadraka people/region

• तथा (tathā): and also

• सौवीराः (sauvīrāḥ): the Sauvīra people/kingdom

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• पौराः (paurāḥ): the Pauras/Pauravas (people of Puru lineage/region)

• नृगस्य (nṛgasya): of Nṛga (a king named Nṛga)

• केकयाः (kekayāḥ): the Kekayas (again, as a related branch/association).

Speaker

• Suta (Purana narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s list of janapadas

Entities Mentioned

• Kekaya
• Bhadraka
• Sauvira
• Paurava
• Nṛga

Tags

• Janapadas
• Ancient Indian geography
• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Puranic ethnography

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is part of a geographic-genealogical listing, naming prosperous janapadas (kingdoms/peoples).

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

Indirectly, it frames the political landscape of famed lineages and realms; such catalogues in the Matsya Purana support the ideal of orderly kingship by situating rulers (like Nṛga) within recognized peoples and territories.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu/ritual rule appears here; the focus is on identifying regions and peoples, useful mainly for contextualizing later pilgrimage, donation, or royal-duty passages tied to specific lands.