Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

तेषां विवादः सुमहाञ् जज्ञे इन्द्रमहर्षीणाम् जङ्गमैः स्थावरैः केन यष्टव्यमिति चोच्यते //

Transliteration

teṣāṃ vivādaḥ sumahāñ jajñe indramaharṣīṇām jaṅgamaiḥ sthāvaraiḥ kena yaṣṭavyamiti cocyate //

Translation

A very great dispute arose among them—among Indra and the great sages—about whether sacrifice should be performed with moving (living) offerings or with stationary (plant-based) offerings; and it was asked, “By which is one to sacrifice?”

Word by Word

• teṣām: among them

• vivādaḥ: dispute/controversy

• sumahān: very great

• jajñe: arose/was born

• indra: Indra

• maharṣīṇām: of the great sages

• jaṅgamaiḥ: with moving/living beings (animal-type offerings)

• sthāvaraiḥ: with stationary things (plants/grains/immobile offerings)

• kena: by which/with what

• yaṣṭavyam: is to be sacrificed/one should perform yajña

• iti: thus

• cocyate: it is said/it was asked

Speaker

• Sūta/Narrator (contextual narration within Matsya Purana’s discourse to Manu; exact speaker not explicit in the single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra
• Maharishis

Tags

• Yajna
• Dharma
• Ritual debate
• Ahimsa vs sacrifice
• Vedic procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it frames a dharmic-ritual controversy—what kind of offering is proper in yajña (living vs. plant-based).

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

It points to a core duty of kings/householders in Purāṇic dharma: performing yajñas correctly and ethically, seeking authoritative guidance when ritual practice is disputed.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: it introduces the technical question of yajña-dravya (sacrificial offering)—whether jaṅgama (living) or sthāvara (non-living/plant) substances are sanctioned for sacrifice.