Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — The Karmic Cause of Purūravas’ Beauty and Fortune

Devanagari script

केन कर्मविपाकेन स तु राजा पुरूरवाः अवाप तादृशं रूपं सौभाग्यमपि चोत्तमम् //

Transliteration

kena karmavipākena sa tu rājā purūravāḥ avāpa tādṛśaṃ rūpaṃ saubhāgyamapi cottamam //

Translation

By the fruition of which past actions did King Purūravas attain such beauty of form, and also the highest good fortune?

Word by Word

• kena: by what?

• karma-vipākena: by the ripening/result of deeds (karmic fruition)

• saḥ tu: that indeed/he

• rājā: king

• purūravāḥ: Purūravas

• avāpa: obtained/attained

• tādṛśam: such/that kind of

• rūpam: form, beauty, appearance

• saubhāgyam: good fortune, auspicious prosperity

• api: also

• ca: and

• uttamam: highest, excellent

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (as the inquirer, addressing Lord Matsya)

Entities Mentioned

• Purūravas

Tags

• Dynasties
• Karma-vipaka
• Royal Fortune
• Genealogy
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on karma-vipāka—how the ripened results of past deeds explain Purūravas’s extraordinary beauty and fortune.

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

It frames royal prosperity as merit-born: a king’s splendour is presented as the consequence of accumulated righteous action, encouraging dharmic conduct (charity, protection of subjects, truthfulness, restraint) as the cause of lasting saubhāgya.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; the technical emphasis is moral-causal (karma → result), not architectural prescription.