Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

न मे कृत्यमनेनास्ति मातुराज्ञा कृता मया त्वं सुरासुरनाथो ऽसि मम च प्रपितामहः //

Transliteration

na me kṛtyamanenāsti māturājñā kṛtā mayā tvaṃ surāsuranātho 'si mama ca prapitāmahaḥ //

Translation

I have no personal purpose to be served by this; I have acted only in obedience to my mother’s command. And you are the lord of both gods and demons—indeed, you are also my great-grandfather.

Word by Word

• na: not

• me: for me/to me

• kṛtyam: duty/need/purpose to be accomplished

• anena: by this/through this act

• asti: is/exists

• mātur-ājñā: the mother’s command

• kṛtā: carried out/fulfilled

• mayā: by me

• tvam: you

• sura-asura-nāthaḥ: lord of the devas and asuras

• asi: are

• mama: my

• ca: and

• prapitāmahaḥ: great-grandfather

Speaker

• A royal descendant (a human king/prince in a lineage episode) addressing an elder divine ancestor (likely Brahmā as prapitāmaha)

Entities Mentioned

• Sura (Devas)
• Asura
• Prapitāmaha (Great-grandfather; commonly Brahmā in Purāṇic usage)

Tags

• Dharma
• Matr̥-ājñā (obedience to mother)
• Genealogy
• Royal ethics
• Elders & authority

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it highlights dharma—acting without self-interest and honoring cosmic hierarchy (the lord of devas and asuras, addressed as an ancestral authority).

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

It models righteous conduct: a ruler/householder should place duty above personal gain, obey rightful parental instruction (mātṛ-ājñā), and show reverence to elders and lineage-authorities.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated directly; the takeaway is ethical—rituals and public acts should be performed from duty and obedience to dharma, not from personal motive.