Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Ila–Sudyumna Episode and the Expansion of the Ikṣvāku

Devanagari script

पृषध्रो गोवधाच्छूद्रो गुरुशापादजायत इक्ष्वाकुवंशं वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वमृषिसत्तमाः //

Transliteration

pṛṣadhro govadhācchūdro guruśāpādajāyata ikṣvākuvaṃśaṃ vakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvamṛṣisattamāḥ //

Translation

Pṛṣadhra, because he slew a cow, became a Śūdra through his teacher’s curse. Now I shall recount the lineage of Ikṣvāku—listen, O best of sages.

Word by Word

• पृषध्रः (pṛṣadhraḥ): Pṛṣadhra

• गो-वधात् (go-vadhāt): from the killing of a cow

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ): a Śūdra (of the fourth varṇa)

• गुरु-शापात् (guru-śāpāt): due to the teacher’s curse

• अजायत (ajāyata): became/was born as

• इक्ष्वाकु-वंशम् (ikṣvāku-vaṃśam): the Ikṣvāku dynasty/lineage

• वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi): I will describe/tell

• शृणुध्वम् (śṛṇudhvam): listen (all of you)

• ऋषि-सत्तमाः (ṛṣi-sattamāḥ): O best among sages.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing the sages (including Manu’s audience-frame typical to the Matsya Purana narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Pṛṣadhra
• Ikṣvāku
• Guru (teacher)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Karma
• Dharma
• Curse

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it shifts the narrative into royal genealogy, highlighting karmic causality (sin and curse) as a governing moral principle in history.

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

It underscores dharma through the grave prohibition against go-hatya (cow-killing) and shows that even royalty can fall in status through adharma and a guru’s curse—reinforcing restraint, protection of dependents, and reverence for teachers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is specified here; the verse functions as a genealogical transition into the Ikshvaku lineage narrative.