Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayāga

Devanagari script

को हि देवत्वमासाद्य मनुष्यत्वं चिकीर्षति अनेनैवोपमानेन त्वं ज्ञास्यसि युधिष्ठिर यथा पुण्यतमं चास्ति तथैव कथितं मया //

Transliteration

ko hi devatvamāsādya manuṣyatvaṃ cikīrṣati anenaivopamānena tvaṃ jñāsyasi yudhiṣṭhira yathā puṇyatamaṃ cāsti tathaiva kathitaṃ mayā //

Translation

For who, having attained the state of a deva, would wish to become a human? By this very comparison, O Yudhiṣṭhira, you will understand: whatever is most supremely meritorious (puṇyatama), that alone I have stated.

Word by Word

• ko: who

• hi: indeed/for

• devatvam: godhood, divine state

• āsādya: having attained

• manuṣyatvam: human state, humanity

• cikīrṣati: would desire to do/be, would wish

• anena: by this

• eva: indeed/only

• upamānena: by the analogy/comparison

• tvam: you

• jñāsyasi: will know/understand

• yudhiṣṭhira: O Yudhiṣṭhira

• yathā: as/whatever

• puṇyatamam: most meritorious, highest in religious merit

• ca: and

• asti: is

• tathā: so/thus

• eva: exactly/indeed

• kathitam: said, declared

• mayā: by me.

Speaker

• A Purāṇic teacher-narrator addressing Yudhiṣṭhira (didactic voice; commonly framed as a sage instructing the king)

Entities Mentioned

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Devas (by implication through devatva)
• Humans (manuṣya)

Tags

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Punya
• Ethics
• Merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses a moral comparison (godhood vs. human birth) to clarify what the text considers the highest form of religious merit (puṇyatama).

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

It frames kingship and household duty in terms of aiming for the ‘highest merit’: a ruler like Yudhiṣṭhira should choose actions that elevate spiritual standing—charity, restraint, protection of subjects, and dharmic governance—rather than actions that diminish merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse; the focus is ethical hierarchy—understanding which choices are ‘most meritorious’ by analogy.