Shloka 45

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

एवं स राजा तपसि प्रसक्तः सम्पूजयन्देववरं सदैव तत्राश्रमे कालमुवास कंचित् स्वर्गोपमे दुःखम् अविन्दमानः //

Transliteration

evaṃ sa rājā tapasi prasaktaḥ sampūjayandevavaraṃ sadaiva tatrāśrame kālamuvāsa kaṃcit svargopame duḥkham avindamānaḥ //

Translation

Thus that king, absorbed in austerity (tapas) and ever worshipping the most excellent of the gods, dwelt for some time in that hermitage, finding no suffering, as though in heaven.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus

• sa: he

• rājā: the king

• tapasi: in austerity/penance

• prasaktaḥ: absorbed/attached

• sampūjayan: worshipping fully

• devavaram: the श्रेष्ठ देव / best of the gods

• sadaiva: always/continually

• tatra: there

• āśrame: in the hermitage

• kālam: time

• uvāsa: dwelt/lived

• kaṃcit: for some (time)

• svargopame: comparable to heaven

• duḥkham: sorrow/suffering

• avindamānaḥ: not finding/experiencing

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice) describing the king’s conduct

Entities Mentioned

• Raja (the King)
• Devavara (the supreme deity)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Tapas
• Devapuja
• Ashrama-life
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it highlights a king’s sustained tapas and worship as a means to transcend worldly distress—qualities that, elsewhere in the Matsya Purana, prepare one to endure cosmic upheavals with steadiness.

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

It presents a royal ideal: even a king should cultivate self-discipline (tapas) and continuous devotion (devapūjā). The implied guideline is that righteous rule is strengthened by inner restraint and regular worship, leading to peace and freedom from affliction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual emphasis is on constant, proper worship (sampūjā) in an āśrama setting; no specific Vāstu or temple-construction rule is stated, but the verse supports the Matsya Purana’s broader stress on correct ritual observance as spiritually transformative.