Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Prayaga Mahatmya: Trimurti Presence

Devanagari script

*युधिष्ठिर उवाच आख्याहि मे यथातथ्यं यथैषा तिष्ठति श्रुतिः केन वा कारणेनैव तिष्ठन्ते लोकसत्तमाः //

Transliteration

*yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ākhyāhi me yathātathyaṃ yathaiṣā tiṣṭhati śrutiḥ kena vā kāraṇenaiva tiṣṭhante lokasattamāḥ //

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: Tell me truthfully and precisely how this sacred teaching (śruti) stands established. And for what reason, indeed, do the foremost among people remain steadfast in it?

Word by Word

• yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca: Yudhiṣṭhira said

• ākhyāhi: tell/explain

• me: to me

• yathā-tathyam: as it truly is, accurately

• yathā: how/in what manner

• eṣā: this

• tiṣṭhati: stands, remains established

• śrutiḥ: śruti, sacred revelation/authoritative teaching

• kena: by what/through what

• vā: or/indeed

• kāraṇena: cause, reason

• eva: precisely/indeed

• tiṣṭhante: stand firm, remain steady

• loka-sattamāḥ: the best/foremost of people, exemplary persons

Speaker

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Entities Mentioned

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śruti

Tags

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Śruti
• Ethics
• Authority of scripture

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it focuses on the authority and stability of śruti (sacred teaching) and why exemplary people remain firm in it—an ethical and epistemic concern rather than a cosmological one.

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

It frames a core Rajadharma issue: a ruler (and likewise a householder) must know what makes scriptural Dharma authoritative and why the best people uphold it, so governance and personal conduct can be grounded in reliable moral law rather than opinion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or iconography is mentioned; the verse instead establishes a ritual-legal foundation by asking how śruti is validated and maintained, which later supports correct ritual procedure and traditional norms.