Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Genealogy from Budha to Purūravas and Yayāti; Raji’s war episode; the Paurava...

Devanagari script

जिज्ञासवस्तच्चरितं कथं पश्यति नः समम् भक्त्या चक्रे ततस्तेषाम् अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं नृपः //

Transliteration

jijñāsavastaccaritaṃ kathaṃ paśyati naḥ samam bhaktyā cakre tatasteṣām arghyapādyādikaṃ nṛpaḥ //

Translation

Eager to know his conduct, (he wondered), “How does this being behold us as equals?” Then the king, with devotion, performed for them the rites of hospitality—offering arghya, pādya, and the like.

Word by Word

• जिज्ञासवः: eager to inquire/know

• तत्-चरितम्: that narrative/that conduct/account

• कथम्: how

• पश्यति: sees/beholds

• नः: us

• समम्: as equal/equally

• भक्त्या: with devotion

• चक्रे: performed/did

• ततः: then/thereupon

• तेषाम्: for them/of them

• अर्घ्य: respectful offering (water/oblation for reception)

• पाद्य: water for washing the feet

• आदिकम्: and other (customary items/rites)

• नृपः: the king

Speaker

• Narrator (Sūta’s narrative voice describing the king’s conduct within the Matsya–Manu flood-cycle context)

Entities Mentioned

• nṛpa (king)
• divine/holy visitors (teṣām)

Tags

• Hospitality
• Ritual
• Rajadharma
• Bhakti
• Arghya-Padya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it highlights devotional hospitality within the broader Matsya–Manu narrative framework that precedes or accompanies the flood-cycle teaching.

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

It presents an ideal of rājadharma and gṛhastha-dharma: receiving honored guests with humility and devotion, and performing the formal guest-offerings (arghya, pādya, etc.) rather than treating oneself as superior.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it refers to the standard reception rites—offering arghya (honor-water/oblation) and pādya (foot-washing water), along with other customary items—central to pūjā and guest-worship protocols in Purāṇic practice.