Shloka 46

Matsya Purana — Genealogy of Kaśyapa: Ādityas

Devanagari script

तृणवृक्षलतागुल्मम् इरा सर्वम् अजीजनत् विश्वा तु यक्षरक्षांसि जनयामास कोटिशः //

Transliteration

tṛṇavṛkṣalatāgulmam irā sarvam ajījanat viśvā tu yakṣarakṣāṃsi janayāmāsa koṭiśaḥ //

Translation

Irā brought forth all grasses, trees, creepers, and shrubs; and Viśvā, in countless numbers, generated the Yakṣas and the Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• तृण (tṛṇa): grasses

• वृक्ष (vṛkṣa): trees

• लता (latā): creepers/vines

• गुल्म (gulma): shrubs/bushes

• इरा (irā): Irā (a creative progenitor figure)

• सर्वम् (sarvam): all/everything

• अजीजनत् (ajījanat): produced/brought forth/created

• विश्वा (viśvā): Viśvā (a creative progenitor figure)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• यक्ष (yakṣa): Yakṣas (nature-spirits/treasure-guardians)

• रक्षांसि (rakṣāṃsi): Rākṣasas/demonic beings

• जनयामास (janayāmāsa): generated/caused to be born

• कोटिशः (koṭiśaḥ): by crores/in countless multitudes.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s creation account)

Entities Mentioned

• Irā
• Viśvā
• Yakṣas
• Rākṣasas

Tags

• Creation
• Sarga
• Puranic cosmology
• Beings and species
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It describes sarga (emanation/creation): vegetation is produced first as a foundational life-supporting category, and then specific classes of beings like Yakṣas and Rākṣasas are generated in vast numbers.

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

By grounding society in a created order—plants and protective/hostile beings—this verse implicitly supports dharma: householders depend on vegetation for sustenance and ritual offerings, while kings are tasked with protecting people from harmful forces symbolized by rākṣasas and maintaining order in the realm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated, but the mention of vegetation aligns with ritual ecology: grasses, trees, and creepers supply key materials (kuśa, wood, leaves) used in yajña, consecrations, and sacred-space preparation discussed elsewhere in the Matsya Purana.