Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

प्राह देवी यदारब्धं तत्कार्यं मे न संशयः किंत्ववश्यं त्वया मर्त्ये हतयज्ञेन शूलिना //

Transliteration

prāha devī yadārabdhaṃ tatkāryaṃ me na saṃśayaḥ kiṃtvavaśyaṃ tvayā martye hatayajñena śūlinā //

Translation

The Goddess said: “Whatever has been undertaken must indeed be brought to completion—of this I have no doubt. Yet it is inevitable that, in the mortal realm, you—Śūlin, the trident-bearer—will become the slayer of the sacrifice (yajña).”

Word by Word

• प्राह (prāha): said

• देवी (devī): the Goddess

• यत् (yat): whatever

• आरब्धम् (ārabdham): begun/undertaken

• तत् (tat): that

• कार्यम् (kāryam): task, act to be accomplished

• मे (me): for me/in my view

• न (na): not

• संशयः (saṃśayaḥ): doubt

• किंतु (kintu): but/however

• अवश्यम् (avaśyam): inevitably, certainly

• त्वया (tvayā): by you

• मर्त्ये (martye): in the mortal world/among mortals

• हत-यज्ञेन (hata-yajñena): as one who has struck down/destroyed the sacrifice

• शूलिना (śūlinā): by the trident-bearer (Śiva).

Speaker

• Devī (the Goddess, i.e., Satī/Umā in a Shaiva frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Devī
• Śūlin (Śiva)
• Yajña (sacrifice)

Tags

• Yajna
• Shaiva
• Devī
• Ritual conflict
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic pralaya; it portrays a ritual “dissolution” where a sacrifice (yajña) is fated to be destroyed, emphasizing moral causality rather than cosmic flood or dissolution.

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

It implies that undertakings—especially rites—must align with dharma; otherwise, even a formally arranged yajña can be overturned. For householders and rulers, it warns against pride, exclusion, or adharma in public rituals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is central: the verse frames the yajña as an act that can be “killed” when corrupted, highlighting that correct intention, legitimacy, and adherence to sacred order are as crucial as the external procedure.