Shloka 88

Matsya Purana — Paurava Genealogy

Devanagari script

अत्रानुवंशश्लोको ऽयं गीतो विप्रैः पुरातनैः ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य यो योनिर् वंशो देवर्षिसत्कृतः क्षेमकं प्राप्य राजानं संस्थास्यति कलौ युगे //

Transliteration

atrānuvaṃśaśloko 'yaṃ gīto vipraiḥ purātanaiḥ brahmakṣatrasya yo yonir vaṃśo devarṣisatkṛtaḥ kṣemakaṃ prāpya rājānaṃ saṃsthāsyati kalau yuge //

Translation

Here is this genealogical verse, sung by the ancient sages: that revered lineage—its source being the Brahma-Kṣatra (the Brahmin–Kshatriya stock), honored by divine seers—will, upon reaching King Kṣemaka, come to an end in the Kali age.

Word by Word

• अत्र (atra): here/in this context

• अनुवंशश्लोकः (anuvaṃśaślokaḥ): a verse summarizing a genealogy/lineage

• अयम् (ayam): this

• गीतः (gītaḥ): sung/recited

• विप्रैः (vipraiḥ): by Brahmins/sages

• पुरातनैः (purātanaiḥ): ancient/old

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य (brahmakṣatrasya): of the Brahma-Kṣatra (Brahmin–Kshatriya lineage)

• यः (yaḥ): which/that

• योनिः (yoniḥ): source/origin

• वंशः (vaṃśaḥ): dynasty/lineage

• देवर्षिसत्कृतः (devarṣisatkṛtaḥ): honored/respected by divine seers

• क्षेमकम् (kṣemakam): Kṣemaka (proper name of a king)

• प्राप्य (prāpya): having reached/attaining

• राजानम् (rājānam): the king

• संस्थास्यति (saṃsthāsyati): will cease/terminate/come to an end

• कलौ (kalau): in Kali (Yuga)

• युगे (yuge): in the age/epoch.

Speaker

• Suta (narratorial voice) reporting an ancient genealogical summary verse attributed to old sages

Entities Mentioned

• Kṣemaka
• Vipras (ancient sages)
• Devarṣis (divine seers)
• Brahma-Kṣatra (Brahmin–Kshatriya lineage)
• Kali Yuga

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• KaliYuga
• RoyalLineage
• PuranicHistory

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic dissolution (pralaya); it speaks of a historical-dynastic “ending” (saṃsthā) of a royal lineage in the Kali Yuga, culminating with King Kṣemaka.

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

Indirectly, it frames kingship within impermanence: even revered, seer-honored dynasties end in time. In the Matsya Purana’s ethical outlook, this supports dharmic governance and legacy—rule righteously, since worldly sovereignty is finite.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its focus is lineage documentation and Puranic chronology (especially the Kali Yuga endpoint of a dynasty).