Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Kauśika Descendants: Śrāddha

Devanagari script

तत्रापि ज्ञानवैराग्यात् प्राणानुत्सृज्य धर्मतः लोकैर् अवेक्ष्यमाणास्ते तीर्थान्ते ऽनशनेन तु //

Transliteration

tatrāpi jñānavairāgyāt prāṇānutsṛjya dharmataḥ lokair avekṣyamāṇāste tīrthānte 'naśanena tu //

Translation

There too, through spiritual knowledge and dispassion (vairāgya), they righteously relinquished their life-breath; watched by the people, they departed at the end of the tīrtha by fasting (unto death).

Word by Word

• tatra api: there also

• jñāna-vairāgyāt: from (the power of) knowledge and dispassion

• prāṇān: the life-breaths

• utsṛjya: having relinquished/abandoned

• dharmataḥ: according to dharma, righteously

• lokaiḥ: by the people

• avekṣyamāṇāḥ: being looked upon/observed

• te: those (persons)

• tīrtha-ante: at the end/boundary of the tirtha (sacred place)

• anaśanena: by fasting (abstention from food)

• tu: indeed/but.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Tirtha
• Dharma
• Jnana
• Vairagya
• Prana
• Anashana

Tags

• Tirtha
• Dharma
• Sannyasa
• Jnana-Vairagya
• Prayopavesha

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic Pralaya; it describes an individual, dharmic exit from life—relinquishing prāṇa through knowledge and dispassion at a sacred tīrtha by fasting.

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

It implies that society (including kings and householders) should recognize and honor dharmic renunciation: those established in jñāna-vairāgya may lawfully undertake prayopaveśa at a tīrtha, observed and acknowledged by the community.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to tīrtha-anta as a designated sacred boundary/spot and to anaśana (fasting) as a formal religious observance; it does not prescribe temple architecture but highlights regulated tīrtha practice.