Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मत्वमगमत्तस्य उपद्रष्टा हरिः स्वयम् सदस्याः सनकाद्यास्तु राजसूयविधौ स्मृताः //

Transliteration

brahmatvamagamattasya upadraṣṭā hariḥ svayam sadasyāḥ sanakādyāstu rājasūyavidhau smṛtāḥ //

Translation

Through that rite he attained Brahmatva, the state of Brahmāhood, and Hari Himself stood as the overseeing witness. In the procedure of the Rājasūya, Sanaka and the other sages are remembered as the officiating members of the assembly.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मत्वम् (brahmatvam): the state/attainment of Brahmahood, supreme spiritual status

• अगमत् (agamāt): attained, reached

• तस्य (tasya): of him/for him

• उपद्रष्टा (upadraṣṭā): overseer, witness, supervising observer

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari (Viṣṇu)

• स्वयम् (svayam): Himself, personally

• सदस्याः (sadasyāḥ): assembly members, officiants/council

• सनकाद्याः (sanakādyāḥ): Sanaka and others (the mind-born sages)

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• राजसूयविधौ (rājasūya-vidhau): in the procedure of the Rājasūya sacrifice

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): are remembered/traditionally stated.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (traditional Matsya Purana dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Sanaka
• Rājasūya (royal consecration sacrifice)

Tags

• Rajasuya
• Vedic Ritual
• Kingship
• Dharma
• Sacrificial Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it emphasizes ritual efficacy—attainment of an exalted spiritual status through the Rājasūya—and the divine witnessing role of Hari.

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

It frames righteous kingship as inseparable from Vedic duty: the king’s legitimacy and spiritual merit are tied to properly performed royal rites (like Rājasūya) conducted with qualified sages and under divine sanction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual (not architectural): Hari is named as the upadraṣṭā (supervising witness), and Sanaka and other sages are specified as sadasyas—key officiants/assembly members required for the correct Rājasūya procedure.