Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

वयं न धर्मं हास्यामो यस्मिन्योक्ष्यसि नो भवान् अदैवतम् अदैत्यं वा लोकं द्रक्ष्यन्ति मानवाः //

Transliteration

vayaṃ na dharmaṃ hāsyāmo yasminyokṣyasi no bhavān adaivatam adaityaṃ vā lokaṃ drakṣyanti mānavāḥ //

Translation

“We shall not abandon dharma. When you yoke us to our task, people will behold a world that is neither godless nor demonic.”

Word by Word

• vayam: we

• na: not

• dharmam: dharma, righteous order/duty

• hāsyāmaḥ (hāsyāmo): we shall abandon/lose (lit. ‘we shall let slip’)

• yasmin: when/wherein

• yokṣyasi: you will yoke, harness, appoint (to a duty)

• naḥ: us

• bhavān: you (honorific)

• adaivatam: without the gods, godless

• adaityam: without daityas/demons, non-demonic

• vā: or/and

• lokam: the world

• drakṣyanti: will see, will behold

• mānavāḥ: men, human beings.

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (addressing Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Manu
• Daityas
• Devas
• Lord Matsya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Dharma
• Manu
• Matsya Avatara
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It frames the approaching crisis (Pralaya context) as a moral test: Manu vows that even amid upheaval, dharma will not be forsaken, and society should not devolve into a godless or demonic order.

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

It emphasizes steadfast adherence to dharma under guidance of the divine/teacher—an ideal for rulers and householders alike: uphold righteous order so that the world remains aligned with devas (virtue) rather than daityas (violent, unrighteous impulses).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the takeaway is foundational: all ritual and social order (including temple/rite systems later in the Purāṇa) must rest on dharma so the community does not become ‘adaivata’ (godless) or ‘adaitya’ (demonic).