Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Lineage of Yayāti through Yadu and the Deeds of Kārtavīrya Arjuna

Devanagari script

युद्धेन पृथिवीं जित्वा धर्मेणैवानुपालनम् संग्रामे वर्तमानस्य वधश्चैवाधिकाद्भवेत् //

Transliteration

yuddhena pṛthivīṃ jitvā dharmeṇaivānupālanam saṃgrāme vartamānasya vadhaścaivādhikādbhavet //

Translation

Having conquered the earth through war, one must thereafter protect and govern it by Dharma alone; for one engaged in battle, killing (the enemy) becomes a matter of greater necessity.

Word by Word

• युद्धेन (yuddhena): by war

• पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm): the earth/kingdom

• जित्वा (jitvā): having conquered

• धर्मेण (dharmeṇa): by dharma/righteous law

• एव (eva): indeed/alone

• अनुपालनम् (anupālanam): protection, proper governance

• संग्रामे (saṃgrāme): in battle

• वर्तमानस्य (vartamānasya): of one who is engaged/present

• वधः (vadhaḥ): killing/slaying

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• अधिकात् (adhikāt): as the greater (consideration)/more compelling

• भवेत् (bhavet): is/becomes

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Rajadharma discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Pṛthivī (the realm/earth)
• Saṅgrāma (battle)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• King's Duties
• Warfare Ethics
• Dharma
• Governance

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on Rajadharma—how a ruler should act in conquest, governance, and battlefield necessity.

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

It frames a king’s duty as twofold: conquest may occur through force, but stable rule must be grounded in Dharma—lawful protection, just administration, and ethical restraint; in active battle, however, lethal force is treated as a compelled wartime duty rather than ordinary violence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its takeaway is political ethics: Dharma-based protection after victory.