Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अग्निपुत्रः कुमारस्तु शरस्तम्बे व्यजायत तस्य शाखो विशाखश्च नैगमेयश् च पृष्ठजाः //

Transliteration

agniputraḥ kumārastu śarastambe vyajāyata tasya śākho viśākhaśca naigameyaś ca pṛṣṭhajāḥ //

Translation

Kumāra, the son of Agni, was born in a clump of reeds. From him were born Śākha, Viśākha, and Naigameya—sons said to have arisen from his back.

Word by Word

• agni-putraḥ: son of Agni

• kumāraḥ: Kumāra (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• tu: indeed/and

• śara-stambe: in a clump of reeds (reed-thicket)

• vyajāyata: was born/was manifested

• tasya: of him

• śākhaḥ: Śākha (proper name)

• viśākhaḥ: Viśākha (proper name)

• ca: and

• naigameyaḥ: Naigameya (proper name)

• ca: and

• pṛṣṭha-jāḥ: born from the back (back-born).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (narrative instruction)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Kumāra (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Śākha
• Viśākha
• Naigameya

Tags

• Genealogy
• Divine births
• Skanda
• Puranic lore
• Lineage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it records a divine birth tradition and lineage—how Kumāra (son of Agni) manifested and how certain figures are said to have originated from him.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Matsya Purana’s broader emphasis on lineage memory and sacred history—knowledge a king preserves through itihāsa-purāṇa traditions, and a householder upholds through teaching and ritual recitation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is genealogical/Devatā-lore—useful in contexts where Skanda/Kumāra traditions are invoked in worship or recitation.