Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Kārtavīrya Arjuna’s Solar Boon and the Genealogy from Kroṣṭu to the Yādava Lines

Devanagari script

रक्षिता स तु राजर्षिः प्रजानामिति नः श्रुतम् स कथं रक्षिता भूत्वा अदहत्तत्तपोवनम् //

Transliteration

rakṣitā sa tu rājarṣiḥ prajānāmiti naḥ śrutam sa kathaṃ rakṣitā bhūtvā adahattattapovanam //

Translation

We have heard that this royal sage was a protector of the people. How then, having become their guardian, did he burn that grove of ascetics’ penance?

Word by Word

• रक्षिता (rakṣitā): protector/guardian

• स (sa): he/that one

• तु (tu): indeed/however

• राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ): royal sage, kingly seer

• प्रजानाम् (prajānām): of the subjects/people

• इति (iti): thus

• नः (naḥ): by us/for us

• श्रुतम् (śrutam): heard, traditionally known

• स (sa): he

• कथम् (katham): how?

• रक्षिता (rakṣitā): protector

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become/being

• अदहत् (adahat): burned

• तत् (tat): that

• तपोवनम् (tapo-vanam): forest/grove of austerity, hermitage-grove

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (inquiry within the Matsya–Manu dialogue tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Rajarshi (royal sage/king)
• Prajā (subjects)
• Tapovana (ascetics’ grove)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Kingship
• Protection of subjects
• Abuse of power
• Tapas

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on moral governance—questioning how a king famed as a protector could commit a destructive act against a sacred ascetic grove.

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

It highlights the core Rajadharma principle that a ruler’s identity is ‘protector of the people’; harming a tapovana is portrayed as a contradiction of that duty, implying accountability and the need to restrain royal power with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-construction rule is stated; the verse’s ritual implication is the sanctity of a tapovana (a space charged by tapas), which should be preserved rather than violated by force.