Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Prayaga Mahatmya Begins: Yudhishthira’s Remorse

Devanagari script

अस्मान्संताप्य बहुशः सर्वे ते निधनं गताः वासुदेवं समाश्रित्य पञ्च शेषास्तु पाण्डवाः //

Transliteration

asmānsaṃtāpya bahuśaḥ sarve te nidhanaṃ gatāḥ vāsudevaṃ samāśritya pañca śeṣāstu pāṇḍavāḥ //

Translation

Having repeatedly caused us great anguish, all of them met their end; but the five Pāṇḍavas remained—taking refuge in Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• asmān: us

• saṃtāpya: afflicting, tormenting, causing pain

• bahuśaḥ: many times, repeatedly

• sarve: all

• te: they/those (people)

• nidhanaṃ: death, destruction, end

• gatāḥ: went to, attained

• vāsudevam: Vasudeva (Krishna/Vishnu)

• samāśritya: having resorted to, taken refuge in

• pañca: five

• śeṣāḥ: remaining, survivors

• tu: but/indeed

• pāṇḍavāḥ: the Pandavas

Speaker

• Suta (traditional Purana narrator) recounting the Mahabharata-linked outcome within Matsya Purana’s dynastic narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Vasudeva
• Pandavas

Tags

• Dynasties
• Dharma
• Bhakti
• Mahabharata

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it emphasizes moral consequence and survival through devotion—those who caused suffering perish, while the righteous endure by taking refuge in Vasudeva.

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

It implies an ethical rule central to Purana-dharma: harming others leads to ruin, while protection of dharma and reliance on the Divine (Vasudeva) sustains one through crisis—an ideal for rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Vasudeva as a stabilizing religious principle.