Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Kauśika Descendants: Śrāddha

Devanagari script

*ऋषय ऊचुः कथं कौशिकदायादाः प्राप्तास्ते योगमुत्तमम् पञ्चभिर्जन्मसम्बन्धैः कथं कर्मक्षयो भवेत् //

Transliteration

*ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ kauśikadāyādāḥ prāptāste yogamuttamam pañcabhirjanmasambandhaiḥ kathaṃ karmakṣayo bhavet //

Translation

The sages said: “How did those descendants of Kauśika attain that supreme Yoga? And how, through connections spanning five births, does the exhaustion (destruction) of karma come to be?”

Word by Word

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages

• ūcuḥ: said

• katham: how

• kauśika-dāyādāḥ: the heirs/descendants of Kauśika

• prāptāḥ: attained

• te: they/those

• yogam: yoga (spiritual discipline/union)

• uttamam: supreme, highest

• pañcabhiḥ: by/through five

• janma-sambandhaiḥ: with links/relations across births

• katham: how

• karma-kṣayaḥ: the wearing away/destruction of karma

• bhavet: may occur/comes to be

Speaker

• Ṛṣis (Sages)

Entities Mentioned

• Kauśika

Tags

• Yoga
• Karma
• Rebirth
• Lineages
• Liberation

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly address Pralaya; it focuses on how karma is exhausted across multiple births through attaining “supreme yoga,” implying liberation rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It frames a practical ethical concern relevant to all—including kings and householders—about how disciplined yoga and righteous conduct can neutralize accumulated karma over lifetimes, supporting dharmic rule and responsible household life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building rule is stated here; the verse is an inquiry into yoga, rebirth-linkages, and karmic exhaustion rather than ritual architecture.