Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Pṛthu

Devanagari script

अन्तकश्चाभवद्दोग्धा यमो वत्सः स्वधा रसः अलाबुपात्रं नागानां तक्षको वत्सको ऽभवत् //

Transliteration

antakaścābhavaddogdhā yamo vatsaḥ svadhā rasaḥ alābupātraṃ nāgānāṃ takṣako vatsako 'bhavat //

Translation

Antaka became the milker, Yama the calf, and Svadhā the flowing essence. For the Nāgas, the vessel was a gourd-bowl, and Takṣaka became their calf.

Word by Word

• अन्तकः (Antaka): the Ender/death-personified

• च (ca): and

• अभवत् (abhavat): became

• दोग्धा (dogdhā): milker (one who draws out)

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama (lord of justice/death)

• वत्सः (vatsaḥ): calf (the one used to draw milk/essence)

• स्वधा (svadhā): Svadhā (ancestral oblation/personified offering)

• रसः (rasaḥ): essence/juice

• अलाबुपात्रम् (alābupātram): a gourd-vessel/bowl

• नागानाम् (nāgānām): of the Nāgas (serpent-beings)

• तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ): Takṣaka (serpent king)

• वत्सकः (vatsakaḥ): calf/young one used for drawing

• अभवत् (abhavat): became

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the cosmic-ritual correspondences within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Antaka
• Yama
• Svadhā
• Nāgas
• Takṣaka

Tags

• Cosmic symbolism
• Ritual correspondences
• Nāga lore
• Puranic cosmology
• Death and Dharma

FAQs

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

It presents a cosmic-ritual mapping where forces like death (Antaka) and cosmic law (Yama) function as agents drawing out “essence” (rasa), suggesting that even destructive powers operate within an ordered, purposeful cosmic system.

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

By placing Yama (the judge of dharma) as the ‘calf’ that enables the drawing of essence, the verse implies that ethical law and accountability are what make prosperity and rightful enjoyment possible—an indirect reminder that rulers and householders must align gain (rasa) with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance lies in the yajña-like metaphor of “milking” with defined roles (milker, calf, vessel, essence); the gourd-vessel (alābu-pātra) highlights prescribed containers/implements in symbolic ritual frameworks rather than temple-architecture rules.