Shloka 59

Matsya Purana — Inquiry into Yayāti’s Story and the Kacha–Devayānī Episode

Devanagari script

निधिं निधीनां वरदं वराणां ये नाद्रियन्ते गुरुमर्चनीयम् प्रालेयाद्रिप्रोज्ज्वलद्भालसंस्थं पापांल्लोकांस्ते व्रजन्त्यप्रतिष्ठाः //

Transliteration

nidhiṃ nidhīnāṃ varadaṃ varāṇāṃ ye nādriyante gurumarcanīyam prāleyādriprojjvaladbhālasaṃsthaṃ pāpāṃllokāṃste vrajantyapratiṣṭhāḥ //

Translation

Those who do not honor the Guru—worthy of worship, the treasure among treasures and bestower of the highest boons, radiant like the shining summit of the Himālaya—go, without standing or dignity, to sinful realms.

Word by Word

• nidhim: treasure

• nidhīnām: among treasures

• varadam: giver of boons

• varāṇām: of the best/excellent (boons or among the excellent)

• ye: those who

• na ādriyante: do not respect / do not revere

• gurum: the Guru (spiritual teacher)

• arcanīyam: worthy of worship

• prāleyādri: the snow-mountain, the Himālaya

• projjvalat: brilliantly shining

• bhāla: forehead / summit / peak (metaphorically the highest point)

• saṃstham: situated/abiding

• pāpān: sinful

• lokān: worlds/realms

• te: they

• vrajanti: go

• apratiṣṭhāḥ: without support, without status, disgraced

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Guru
• Prāleyādri (Himālaya)

Tags

• Dharma
• Guru-bhakti
• Ethics
• Karma
• Puranic teaching

FAQs

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

It does not teach Pralaya directly; it uses the Himālaya’s radiant summit as an image for the Guru’s exalted stature, while emphasizing karmic consequence—disrespect leads to descent into sinful realms.

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

For both king and householder, dharma begins with honoring the teacher who transmits right conduct and sacred knowledge; neglecting the Guru undermines righteous governance and personal discipline, producing loss of reputation and adverse afterlife results.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse is primarily ethical and ritual in tone: it calls the Guru 'arcanīya' (worthy of worship), implying the propriety of guru-arcana (reverential worship/rites), but it does not give Vāstu or temple-building rules in this line.