Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Solar Dynasty Prelude: Vivasvān–Saṃjñā–Chāyā

Devanagari script

वव्रे स लोकपालत्वं पितृलोके नृपालयम् धर्माधर्मात्मकस्यापि जगतस्तु परीक्षणम् //

Transliteration

vavre sa lokapālatvaṃ pitṛloke nṛpālayam dharmādharmātmakasyāpi jagatastu parīkṣaṇam //

Translation

He chose the office of a world-guardian (Lokapāla), and kingship in the realm of the Fathers (Pitṛloka), along with the charge of examining the world—though it is of the nature of both dharma and adharma.

Word by Word

• वव्रे (vavre): chose/accepted

• स (sa): he

• लोकपालत्वम् (lokapālatvam): the status/office of a Lokapāla (world-guardian)

• पितृलोके (pitṛloke): in Pitṛloka, the world of the ancestors

• नृपालयम् (nṛpālayam): kingship/rulership (protector of men)

• धर्माधर्मात्मकस्य (dharmādharmātmakasya): of that which has the character of dharma and adharma

• अपि (api): even/indeed

• जगतः (jagataḥ): of the world

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• परीक्षणम् (parīkṣaṇam): examination, testing, discernment.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the accepted role/duty (contextually within the Matsya Purana’s Manu–Matsya dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Lokapāla
• Pitṛloka
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Dharma
• Adharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Kingship
• Lokapala
• Pitrloka
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing pralaya directly; it emphasizes cosmic administration—appointing guardianship and the moral “testing” or discernment of the world’s dharma–adharma mixture, which is relevant to maintaining order across cosmic cycles.

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

It frames rulership as a moral office: a king (nṛpāla) must protect people while actively discerning and regulating dharma and adharma in society—governance is presented as ethical supervision, not merely power.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vāstu/temple-construction rule is stated in this verse; the ritual-cosmological point is Pitṛloka’s governance and the duty of “parīkṣaṇa” (discernment), which aligns with broader Purāṇic ritual ethics rather than architecture.