Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

प्राचीनबर्हिः पर्जन्यो हविर्धानादयो नृपाः एते चान्ये च बहवस् ते तपोभिर्दिवं गताः //

Transliteration

prācīnabarhiḥ parjanyo havirdhānādayo nṛpāḥ ete cānye ca bahavas te tapobhirdivaṃ gatāḥ //

Translation

King Prācīnabarhi, King Parjanya, Havirdhāna and others—these rulers, and many more besides, attained heaven through the power of their austerities (tapas).

Word by Word

• प्राचीनबर्हिः (prācīnabarhiḥ): Prācīnabarhi (a king)

• पर्जन्यः (parjanyaḥ): Parjanya (a king)

• हविर्धानादयः (havirdhānādayaḥ): Havirdhāna and others

• नृपाः (nṛpāḥ): kings/rulers

• एते (ete): these

• च (ca): and

• अन्ये (anye): others

• बहवः (bahavaḥ): many

• ते (te): they

• तपोभिः (tapobhiḥ): by austerities/penance

• दिवम् (divam): to heaven

• गताः (gatāḥ): went/attained

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (context: royal genealogies and exemplary kings)

Entities Mentioned

• Prācīnabarhi
• Parjanya
• Havirdhāna

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Tapas
• Kingship
• Svarga

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it highlights a genealogical-ethical theme: certain kings reached heaven through tapas (austerity), presenting moral exemplars rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It links kingship with spiritual discipline: rulers are portrayed as capable of attaining svarga through tapas, implying that royal power is ideally governed by self-restraint, vows, and dharmic conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or temple-architecture rule appears here; the closest ritual implication is that tapas (often paired with vrata and yajña in Purāṇic ethics) is treated as a recognized means to higher worlds.