Shloka 1
Matsya Purana — Pṛthu
एते युगसहस्रान्ते विनश्यन्ति पुनः पुनः ब्रह्माद्या विष्णुसायुज्यं याता यास्यन्ति वै द्विजाः // मत्स्९।३९ *ऋषय ऊचुः बहुभिर् धारिणी भुक्ता भूपालैः श्रूयते पुरा पार्थिवाः पृथिवीयोगात् पृथिवी कस्य योगतः //
ete yugasahasrānte vinaśyanti punaḥ punaḥ brahmādyā viṣṇusāyujyaṃ yātā yāsyanti vai dvijāḥ // Mats_9.39 *ṛṣaya ūcuḥ bahubhir dhāriṇī bhuktā bhūpālaiḥ śrūyate purā pārthivāḥ pṛthivīyogāt pṛthivī kasya yogataḥ //
At the end of each thousandfold yuga-cycle, all these are dissolved again and again; even Brahmā and the rest—O twice-born—have attained, and will attain, union with Viṣṇu. The Ṛṣis said: “It is heard of old that the Earth, the Sustainer, has been enjoyed and ruled by many kings. Those rulers are ‘lords of the earth’ by their connection with the Earth—yet by whose connection (or right) does the Earth herself belong to anyone?”
FAQs
It asserts recurring dissolution at the completion of vast time-cycles (yuga-sahasra), where even exalted beings like Brahmā ultimately merge into or attain union with Viṣṇu—highlighting the cyclical nature of pralaya and re-emergence.
By questioning how kings are called ‘lords of the earth,’ it frames kingship as a conditional stewardship based on rightful connection (yoga) to the land—implying that rule must be justified through dharma, protection, and legitimate authority rather than mere possession.
No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; however, the verse’s focus on ‘pṛthivī-yoga’ (rightful relation to the Earth) underlies later Vāstu/ritual ideas where land must be properly claimed, purified, and ritually established before building or consecration.