Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Origins of Gods and Beings: Daksha’s Progeny

Devanagari script

ते ऽपि तेनैव मार्गेण जग्मुर्भ्रातृपथा तदा ततः प्रभृति न भ्रातुः कनीयान्मार्गम् इच्छति अन्विष्यन्दुःखमाप्नोति तेन तत्परिवर्जयेत् //

Transliteration

te 'pi tenaiva mārgeṇa jagmurbhrātṛpathā tadā tataḥ prabhṛti na bhrātuḥ kanīyānmārgam icchati anviṣyanduḥkhamāpnoti tena tatparivarjayet //

Translation

They too then went by that very same route—the path taken by the brother. From that time onward, the younger brother should not seek to take the elder brother’s path; one who pursues it meets with sorrow—therefore one should avoid that course.

Word by Word

• te api: they also

• tena eva mārgeṇa: by that very path/route

• jagmuḥ: went

• bhrātṛ-pathā: by the brother’s path (the way taken by the brother)

• tadā: then

• tataḥ prabhṛti: from then onward/thereafter

• na: not

• bhrātuḥ: of (one’s) brother (esp. elder brother in context)

• kanīyān: the younger (brother)

• mārgaṁ: path/way/course

• icchati: should desire/seeks

• anviṣyan: seeking/pursuing

• duḥkham: sorrow/suffering

• āpnoti: attains/comes to

• tena: therefore

• tat: that (course)

• parivarjayet: should avoid completely.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu in the Purana’s dialogic frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhrātṛ (brother/elder-younger ethical frame)
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Lord Matsya

Tags

• Dharma
• Nīti
• Conduct
• Family ethics
• Avoiding misfortune

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it offers ethical instruction (nīti) about avoiding a course of action that predictably leads to suffering.

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

It advises restraint and respect for hierarchy: a householder (and by extension a ruler) should avoid actions that provoke rivalry or invite predictable harm, instead choosing a prudent, non-contentious course.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is moral-psychological—do not imitate a precedent that brings duḥkha, but deliberately avoid that path.