Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Pṛthu

Devanagari script

ममन्थुर् ब्राह्मणास्तस्य बलाद्देहमकल्मषाः तत्कायान्मथ्यमानात्तु निपेतुर्म्लेच्छजातयः //

Transliteration

mamanthur brāhmaṇāstasya balāddehamakalmaṣāḥ tatkāyānmathyamānāttu nipeturmlecchajātayaḥ //

Translation

Then those stainless Brahmins, by the force of their rite, churned his body; and as that body was being churned, the tribes called Mlecchas fell forth (came into being) from it.

Word by Word

• ममन्थुः: they churned

• ब्राह्मणाः: the Brahmins

• तस्य: of him/that one

• बलात्: by force/with potency (of ritual power)

• देहम्: the body

• अकल्मषाः: stainless, free from impurity

• तत्कायात्: from that body

• मथ्यमानात्: while being churned

• तु: then/indeed

• निपेतुः: fell out, emerged

• म्लेच्छजातयः: Mleccha tribes/foreign-born peoples

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (likely narrative voice within the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇas
• Mleccha-jātayaḥ

Tags

• Sarga
• Mythic-etymology
• Genealogy
• Social-origins
• Ritual-power

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya directly; it presents a creation-style (sarga) motif where new groups arise through a ritual act—“churning” a body—indicating mythic origins rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it frames social diversity as arising within a sacred cosmology; for kings and householders, the implied ethic is governance and conduct that recognizes varied communities while upholding dharma guided by Brahminical ritual authority.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the idea of mantra-tapas “force” (balāt) empowering Brahmins to effect transformation; there is no explicit Vastu or temple-architecture rule in this verse.