Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga: Manasa Tirtha

Devanagari script

अधःशिरास्तु यो ज्वालाम् ऊर्ध्वपादः पिबेन्नरः शतवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते //

Transliteration

adhaḥśirāstu yo jvālām ūrdhvapādaḥ pibennaraḥ śatavarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate //

Translation

A man who, hanging with his head downward and his feet upward, “drinks” (endures) the blazing fire is honored in the heavenly world for a hundred thousand years.

Word by Word

• adhaḥ-śirāḥ: with head downward

• tu: indeed

• yaḥ: who

• jvālām: flame, blazing fire

• ūrdhva-pādaḥ: with feet upward

• pibet: drinks/endures (figuratively, takes in)

• naraḥ: a man

• śata-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: hundreds of thousands of years (i.e., 100,000 years)

• svarga-loke: in Svarga, the heavenly realm

• mahīyate: is honored, is greatly revered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, describing tapas and its results)

Entities Mentioned

• Svarga

Tags

• Tapas
• Vrata
• Karmaphala
• Svarga
• Austerity

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on karmaphala—how extreme tapas is said to yield prolonged honor in Svarga.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic that disciplined self-restraint and religious observance produce merit; for kings/householders, the implied takeaway is to support dharma and regulated vows rather than imitate dangerous ascetic extremes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears here; the ritual significance is the broader vrata/tapas framework where austerity is presented as a means to accrue religious merit (puṇya).