Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Origin of Yajña in Tretā Yuga and the Debate on Animal Sacrifice vs. Non-...

Devanagari script

अधर्मो धर्मघाताय प्रारब्धः पशुभिस्त्वया नायं धर्मो ह्यधर्मो ऽयं न हिंसा धर्म उच्यते आगमेन भवान्धर्मं प्रकरोतु यदीच्छति //

Transliteration

adharmo dharmaghātāya prārabdhaḥ paśubhistvayā nāyaṃ dharmo hyadharmo 'yaṃ na hiṃsā dharma ucyate āgamena bhavāndharmaṃ prakarotu yadīcchati //

Translation

This is adharma, begun by you through animals—through their killing—for the very destruction of dharma. This is not dharma; indeed, it is adharma. Violence is not called dharma. If you truly wish, establish dharma in accordance with the Āgamas, the authoritative scriptures.

Word by Word

• अधर्मः (adharmaḥ): unrighteousness

• धर्मघाताय (dharmaghātāya): for the ruin/destruction of dharma

• प्रारब्धः (prārabdhaḥ): undertaken/initiated

• पशुभिः (paśubhiḥ): by/through animals (i.e., animal-killing or animal offerings)

• त्वया (tvayā): by you

• न (na): not

• अयम् (ayam): this

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ): righteousness/duty

• हि (hi): indeed

• अधर्मः (adharmaḥ): unrighteousness

• अयम् (ayam): this

• न (na): not

• हिंसा (hiṃsā): violence/injury

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ): dharma

• उच्यते (ucyate): is called

• आगमेन (āgamena): by/according to Āgama/scriptural authority

• भवान् (bhavān): you (honorific)

• धर्मम् (dharmam): dharma

• प्रकरोतु (prakarotu): should perform/establish

• यदि (yadi): if

• इच्छति (icchati): (he) wishes.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as instructor in dharma, addressing Manu/kingly authority)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Adharma
• Āgama
• Hiṃsā
• Paśu (animals)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ahimsa
• Rajadharma
• Scriptural authority
• Ethics

FAQs

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

Nothing directly about Pralaya appears here; the verse focuses on ethical discernment—warning that practices involving violence can masquerade as “dharma” yet actually destroy dharma.

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

It warns rulers and householders not to justify harmful acts as religious duty; true dharma should be grounded in recognized scripture (āgama) and should not be framed as violence done in the name of righteousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the appeal to āgama-based procedure: dharma should be established through authorized textual tradition rather than through violent rites presented as obligatory.