Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

हिंसा स्वभावो यज्ञस्य इति मे दर्शनागमः तथैते भाविता मन्त्रा हिंसालिङ्गा महर्षिभिः //

Transliteration

hiṃsā svabhāvo yajñasya iti me darśanāgamaḥ tathaite bhāvitā mantrā hiṃsāliṅgā maharṣibhiḥ //

Translation

“Violence is intrinsic to sacrifice”—such is the doctrine I have received through my tradition of teaching. Accordingly, the great sages have also formulated these mantras so that they bear the mark (indication) of violence.

Word by Word

• hiṃsā: violence, injury (ritual killing)

• svabhāvaḥ: inherent nature, intrinsic character

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice (yajña)

• iti: thus

• me: to me / my

• darśana-āgamaḥ: received doctrine, traditional teaching of a philosophical school

• tathā: likewise, accordingly

• ete: these

• bhāvitāḥ: composed, formulated, cultivated (with intended force)

• mantrāḥ: mantras, sacrificial formulae

• hiṃsā-liṅgāḥ: having violence as their sign/indicator, marked by himsa

• maharṣibhiḥ: by the great seers.

Speaker

• Likely Vaivasvata Manu (in dialogue context, presenting a received doctrinal view about yajña)

Entities Mentioned

• Maharishis
• Yajña
• Mantras
• Himsa

Tags

• Yajna
• Dharma
• Ritual
• Himsa
• Vedic tradition

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it focuses on ritual theory, asserting that himsa is considered an intrinsic feature of certain yajñas according to a received doctrinal tradition.

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

It frames a key dharmic tension relevant to householders and rulers who sponsor public rites: some sacrificial acts are defended as scripturally sanctioned even when they involve harm, and the verse grounds that claim in tradition (āgama) and sage-authored mantras.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights that mantras themselves are crafted to signal the sacrificial act’s nature—implying that correct yajña performance depends on understanding the mantra’s intent, including whether the rite entails sanctioned himsa.