Shloka 51

Matsya Purana — Inquiry into Taraka’s Slaying and the Prelude to Guha

Devanagari script

परस्य गौरवान्मुक्तः शत्रूणां भारमावहेत् जीवन्नेव मृतो वत्स दिवसे दिवसे स तु //

Transliteration

parasya gauravānmuktaḥ śatrūṇāṃ bhāramāvahet jīvanneva mṛto vatsa divase divase sa tu //

Translation

Freed from regard for another’s dignity (that is, acting without respect), a man ends up carrying the burden of enemies. Such a person, dear child, is as good as dead while still alive—day after day.

Word by Word

• परस्य (parasya): of another person

• गौरवात् (gauravāt): from honor/dignity/respect

• मुक्तः (muktaḥ): freed/abandoned (i.e., having cast off)

• शत्रूणाम् (śatrūṇām): of enemies

• भारम् (bhāram): burden/load

• आवहेत् (āvahet): would bear/carry upon himself

• जीवन् एव (jīvan eva): even while living

• मृतः (mṛtaḥ): dead

• वत्स (vatsa): dear child

• दिवसे दिवसे (divase divase): day after day

• सः तु (sa tu): he indeed.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu, in a didactic/nīti passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Dharma
• Conduct
• Enmity

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a nīti teaching that warns how abandoning respect and propriety generates enmity and a living-death condition through constant social conflict.

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

It instructs both rulers and householders to uphold honor and respectful conduct; contempt for others invites hostility, multiplying political and social burdens—an avoidable source of instability in governance and family life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule appears here; the takeaway is ethical—social harmony (through respect) is treated as foundational for stable public life, which indirectly supports orderly civic and temple patronage.