Shloka 35

Matsya Purana — Pṛthu

Devanagari script

दुहितृत्वं गता यस्मात् पृथोर्धर्मवतो मही तदानुरागयोगाच्च पृथिवी विश्रुता बुधैः //

Transliteration

duhitṛtvaṃ gatā yasmāt pṛthordharmavato mahī tadānurāgayogācca pṛthivī viśrutā budhaiḥ //

Translation

Because the Earth (mahī) came to be regarded as the daughter of the righteous King Pṛthu, and because of the bond of affection that arose thereby, she became renowned among the wise as “Pṛthivī.”

Word by Word

• duhitṛtvam: the state of being a daughter

• gatā: having attained/assumed

• yasmāt: because/since

• pṛthoḥ: of Pṛthu

• dharmavataḥ: of the righteous/virtuous one

• mahī: the Earth

• tadā: then/thereupon

• anurāga-yogāt: due to the connection/association of affection

• ca: and

• pṛthivī: Pṛthivī (Earth, named after Pṛthu)

• viśrutā: widely famed/renowned

• budhaiḥ: by the wise/learned.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting traditional etymology within the Matsya Purana’s royal-genealogy narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Pṛthu
• Pṛthivī (Earth/Mahī)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Etymology
• Dharma
• Kingship
• Puranic Geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it preserves an etymological tradition explaining Earth’s name “Pṛthivī” through her relationship with King Pṛthu.

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

By praising Pṛthu as “dharmavat” (righteous), the verse implies that a king’s legitimacy rests on dharma and benevolent guardianship—so much so that the land itself is symbolically linked to him as a ‘daughter’ under his protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule appears here; the takeaway is conceptual—Earth (Pṛthivī) is sanctified through dharmic kingship, a worldview that underlies later temple/land rites where the ground is treated as revered and protected.