Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

तस्यात्मजानामयुतं बभूव धर्मात्मनाम् अग्र्यधनुर्धराणाम् तदात्मनः सर्वमवेक्ष्य राजा मुहुर्मुहुर् विस्मयमाससाद सो ऽभ्यागतं वीक्ष्य मुनिप्रवीरं प्राचेतसं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे //

Transliteration

tasyātmajānāmayutaṃ babhūva dharmātmanām agryadhanurdharāṇām tadātmanaḥ sarvamavekṣya rājā muhurmuhur vismayamāsasāda so 'bhyāgataṃ vīkṣya munipravīraṃ prācetasaṃ vākyamidaṃ babhāṣe //

Translation

Of his sons there came to be ten thousand—righteous-souled and foremost among bowmen. Seeing all this as his own line, the king again and again fell into wonder. Then, beholding the eminent sage Prācetasa who had arrived, he spoke these words.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him

• ātmajānām: of sons/offspring

• ayutam: ten thousand

• babhūva: there came to be/was born

• dharma-ātmanām: of righteous-minded ones

• agrya: foremost/excellent

• dhanur-dharāṇām: of bow-bearers/archers

• tat: that

• ātmanaḥ: as his own (lineage)/of himself

• sarvam: all

• avekṣya: having seen/observed

• rājā: the king

• muhur muhuḥ: again and again

• vismayam: amazement/wonder

• āsasāda: attained/fell into

• saḥ: he

• abhyāgatam: arrived/come near

• vīkṣya: having seen

• muni-pravīram: the best of sages

• prācetasam: Prācetasa (descendant of Prācetas)

• vākyam: speech/words

• idam: these

• babhāṣe: spoke

Speaker

• The King (unnamed in this isolated verse; a royal figure in the genealogy narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Prācetasa

Tags

• Dynasties
• Ancient Indian genealogy
• Rajadharma
• Righteous progeny
• Sage visitation

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on royal lineage—many righteous, skilled sons—and the arrival of the sage Prācetasa.

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

It highlights the royal ideal of producing and guiding virtuous heirs who are also capable protectors (foremost archers), and it models reverence to sages by receiving a visiting muni and addressing him formally.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu/temple-building or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; the key takeaway is the courtly-ritual etiquette of honoring an arriving sage.