Shloka 59

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

स्वायम्भुवो ऽपि कालेन दक्षः प्राचेतसो ऽभवत् पार्वती साभवद्देवी शिवदेहार्धधारिणी //

Transliteration

svāyambhuvo 'pi kālena dakṣaḥ prācetaso 'bhavat pārvatī sābhavaddevī śivadehārdhadhāriṇī //

Translation

In the course of time, even Daksha—(once known as) Svāyambhuva—became (reborn as) Daksha, the son of Prācetas. And the Goddess Pārvatī came to be, the divine one who bears half of Śiva’s body.

Word by Word

• svāyambhuvaḥ: (the) Svāyambhuva (Daksha associated with Svāyambhuva Manu)

• api: even/also

• kālena: in time, with the passage of time

• dakṣaḥ: Daksha

• prācetasaḥ: son/descendant of the Prācetas (Prācetasa lineage)

• abhavat: became, came to be

• pārvatī: Parvati

• sā: she

• abhavat: became

• devī: the Goddess

• śiva-deha-ardha-dhāriṇī: bearer of half of Shiva’s body (Ardhanārīśvara motif).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (genealogical narration context)

Entities Mentioned

• Daksha
• Svayambhuva (Manu-context epithet)
• Pracetas/Pracetas lineage (Pracetasa)
• Parvati
• Shiva

Tags

• Genealogy
• Rebirth
• Prajapatis
• Shaiva-Shakta synthesis
• Ardhanarishvara

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights cyclical time—beings like Daksha reappear across ages and lineages as time turns.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces Purāṇic dharma through lineage: social order, ritual continuity, and household rites are preserved by recognizing genealogies of Prajāpatis and divine exemplars like Śiva–Pārvatī.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The phrase “bearing half of Śiva’s body” points to the Ardhanārīśvara theology, often expressed in iconography and temple worship—useful for identifying the correct form (mūrti-bheda) in ritual and shrine depiction.