Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

*ईश्वर उवाच आसीत्पुरा बृहत्कल्पे धर्ममूर्तिर्जनाधिपः सुहृच्छक्रस्य निहता येन दैत्याः सहस्रशः //

Transliteration

*īśvara uvāca āsītpurā bṛhatkalpe dharmamūrtirjanādhipaḥ suhṛcchakrasya nihatā yena daityāḥ sahasraśaḥ //

Translation

The Lord said: In former times, in the great aeon called Bṛhat-kalpa, there was a sovereign among men who was the very embodiment of Dharma. For the sake of Indra (Śakra), his ally, he caused the Daityas to be slain—by the thousands.

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord

• uvāca: said

• āsīt: there was

• purā: formerly/once upon a time

• bṛhat-kalpe: in the great kalpa (Bṛhat-kalpa)

• dharma-mūrtiḥ: embodiment/form of Dharma

• janādhipaḥ: ruler of men/king

• suhṛt: friend/ally

• śakrasya: of Śakra (Indra)

• nihatāḥ: slain/killed

• yena: by whom/through whom

• daityāḥ: Daityas (a class of Asuras)

• sahasraśaḥ: by thousands/in thousands

Speaker

• Īśvara (Lord Matsya/Vishnu speaking in the Matsya Purana dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Īśvara
• Śakra (Indra)
• Daityas
• Dharma (as principle)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dharma
• Puranic warfare
• Indra
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It situates the narrative in a prior kalpa (Bṛhat-kalpa), indicating long cosmic time-cycles, but it does not directly describe pralaya; it uses kalpa as a chronological frame for a past event.

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

It presents the ideal king as dharma-mūrti—one who embodies Dharma—and depicts royal duty as protecting cosmic and social order, even through force against adharmic powers (here, the Daityas), in alliance with rightful authority (Indra).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is explicit in this verse; it is a rajadharma-leaning narrative line focused on dharmic kingship and conflict, not on Vāstu or ritual procedure.