Shloka 111

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

भ्रूणहत्याश्वमेधादिपापपुण्यनिभैः परम् आभूतसम्प्लवान्ते तु क्षीयन्ते चोर्ध्वरेतसः //

Transliteration

bhrūṇahatyāśvamedhādipāpapuṇyanibhaiḥ param ābhūtasamplavānte tu kṣīyante cordhvaretasaḥ //

Translation

At the end of the great dissolution of the elements (ābhūta-sampplava), even the ūrdhvaretas ascetics—those of restrained seed and upward-directed vital force—are exhausted; and with them perish the residual fruits that resemble both the gravest sin (such as embryo-slaying) and the highest merit (such as the Aśvamedha sacrifice).

Word by Word

• भ्रूणहत्या: embryo-slaying (a paradigmatic great sin)

• अश्वमेधादि: the Aśvamedha and similar (great sacrifices)

• पाप: sin/demerit

• पुण्य: merit

• निभैः: resembling/comparable to (in their karmic potency or residual trace)

• परम्: exceedingly/ultimately

• आभूत: of the elements (bhūtas)

• सम्प्लव-अन्ते: at the end of the inundation/dissolution

• तु: indeed

• क्षीयन्ते: are diminished/come to exhaustion

• च: and

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः: those whose semen/vital energy is directed upward—celibate ascetics (brahmacārins/ūrdhvaretas yogins).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this Pralaya-focused discourse in Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Aśvamedha
• Bhrūṇahatya
• Ūrdhvaretas (celibate ascetics)
• Bhūtas (elements)
• Pralaya (implied)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Karma
• Merit and Sin
• Asceticism
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

It teaches that at the close of elemental dissolution (ābhūta-samplava), karmic residues—both extreme sin and extreme merit—lose their operative force; even exalted ascetic attainments are subject to cosmic exhaustion.

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

It reframes royal and household dharma (sacrifices like Aśvamedha, avoidance of great sins) as powerful but ultimately time-bound within cosmic cycles—encouraging righteous action without pride and with awareness of impermanence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it references Aśvamedha as the pinnacle of sacrificial merit, but emphasizes that even such ritual fruits are not permanent at Pralaya; no specific Vastu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.