Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

यदा तु सृजतस्तस्य देवर्षिगणपन्नगान् न वृद्धिम् अगमल्लोकस् तदा मैथुनयोगतः दक्षः पुत्रसहस्राणि पाञ्चजन्यामजीजनत् //

Transliteration

yadā tu sṛjatastasya devarṣigaṇapannagān na vṛddhim agamallokas tadā maithunayogataḥ dakṣaḥ putrasahasrāṇi pāñcajanyāmajījanat //

Translation

But when, even as he created the hosts of divine seers and the serpent-races, the world did not attain increase, then Dakṣa, through the discipline of procreative union, begot thousands of sons upon Pāñcajanyā.

Word by Word

• yadā: when

• tu: however/then

• sṛjataḥ: of (him) who was creating

• tasya: of him/that one

• devarṣi-gaṇa: groups of divine seers

• pannagān: serpents/serpent-beings (Nāgas)

• na: not

• vṛddhim: growth/increase

• agamat: attained/went to

• lokaḥ: the world

• tadā: then

• maithuna-yogataḥ: by the method/discipline of sexual union (procreative yoga)

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa (Prajāpati)

• putra-sahasrāṇi: thousands of sons

• pāñcajanyām: (on/through) Pāñcajanyā (a consort/woman named Pāñcajanyā)

• ajījanat: he generated/begot.

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice within the Matsya Purana’s creation account)

Entities Mentioned

• Dakṣa
• Devarṣis
• Pannagas (Nāgas)
• Pāñcajanyā

Tags

• Creation
• Prajāpati
• Genealogy
• Progeny
• Cosmic Population

FAQs

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

It describes creation (sarga), not pralaya: when initial beings like divine seers and serpent-races did not sufficiently increase the world’s population, Dakṣa expands creation through procreative generation of many sons.

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

It supports the Purāṇic ideal that household life (gṛhastha) and regulated procreation are legitimate dharmic means for sustaining society—growth and continuity are achieved through disciplined, purposeful union rather than mere ascetic creation alone.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated; the verse is genealogical/cosmogonic, emphasizing population increase through Dakṣa’s progeny rather than architectural prescriptions.