Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Paurava Genealogy: Bharata

Devanagari script

गर्भः परिणतश्चायं ब्रह्म व्याहरते गिरा अमोघरेतास्त्वं चापि धर्मं चैवं विगर्हितम् //

Transliteration

garbhaḥ pariṇataścāyaṃ brahma vyāharate girā amogharetāstvaṃ cāpi dharmaṃ caivaṃ vigarhitam //

Translation

“This embryo has already matured, and with its speech it utters the sacred Brahman. You too are one whose seed is unfailing—yet such a course of ‘dharma’ as this is reprehensible.”

Word by Word

• गर्भः (garbhaḥ): embryo/foetus

• परिणतः (pariṇataḥ): matured/fully developed

• च (ca): and

• अयं (ayaṃ): this

• ब्रह्म (brahma): sacred utterance/Vedic truth/Brahman

• व्याहरते (vyāharate): speaks/utters

• गिरा (girā): by speech/with voice

• अमोघरेताः (amogha-retāḥ): of unfailing seed/potent procreative power

• त्वं (tvaṃ): you

• चापि (cāpi): and also

• धर्मम् (dharmaṃ): dharma/righteous conduct

• च (ca): and

• एवम् (evaṃ): thus/in this manner

• विगर्हितम् (vigarhitam): censured/blameworthy/reprehensible

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking in an admonitory discourse to Manu or a questioned party within the narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma/Brahman (sacred utterance)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Admonition
• Conduct
• Puranic morality

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on moral censure, using the striking image of a mature foetus speaking sacred truth to emphasize that true dharma is self-evident and that certain acts—though claimed as ‘dharma’—remain blameworthy.

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

It warns leaders and householders not to justify improper actions under the label of dharma; even when one has power, potency, or status, conduct that violates righteousness is to be condemned, not rationalized.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu/temple-building rule is stated here; the verse is a dharma-niti admonition, relevant to ritual only in the broad sense that sacred speech (brahma) should align with ethical action.