Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Chapter on Conquering Anger: Forbearance

Devanagari script

न ह्य् अतो दुष्करं मन्ये तात लोकेष्वपि त्रिषु यः सपत्नश्रियं दीप्तां हीनश्रीः पर्युपासते //

Transliteration

na hy ato duṣkaraṃ manye tāta lokeṣvapi triṣu yaḥ sapatnaśriyaṃ dīptāṃ hīnaśrīḥ paryupāsate //

Translation

My child, I do not think there is anything more difficult—even across the three worlds—than for one of diminished fortune to stand in attendance upon the blazing prosperity of his rival.

Word by Word

• na: not

• hi: indeed

• ataḥ: than this/from this

• duṣkaram: difficult, hard to do

• manye: I consider/I think

• tāta: dear child

• lokeṣu: in the worlds

• api: even

• triṣu: in the three

• yaḥ: who

• sapatna-śriyam: the prosperity (śrī) of a rival/enemy

• dīptām: blazing, radiant

• hīna-śrīḥ: one whose prosperity is diminished/one bereft of fortune

• paryupāsate: waits upon, attends, serves closely

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu as 'tāta' within a didactic discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Shri (Fortune/Prosperity)
• Sapatna (Rival)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Rivalry
• Fortune
• Self-control

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a moral-psychological observation within a didactic section, highlighting the intense difficulty of enduring a rival’s visible prosperity.

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

For a king, it warns against jealousy and rash retaliation when a political rival rises; for a householder, it teaches restraint, dignity, and patience when confronted with another’s success—key virtues for stable governance and social harmony.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its significance is ethical (nīti): mastering envy and maintaining composure amid competitive social or political circumstances.