Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — The Pushkara Manifestation

Devanagari script

सेनानीश्च महातेजा रुद्रास्त्वेकादश स्मृताः तस्यामेव सुरभ्यां च गावो यज्ञेश्वराश्च वै //

Transliteration

senānīśca mahātejā rudrāstvekādaśa smṛtāḥ tasyāmeva surabhyāṃ ca gāvo yajñeśvarāśca vai //

Translation

The mighty and radiant Senānī is remembered among the eleven Rudras; and from that very Surabhī arise the sacred cows, revered indeed as the presiding powers of sacrifice.

Word by Word

• सेनानी (senānī): Senānī, the commander/war-leader (a Rudra-name)

• च (ca): and

• महातेजा (mahā-tejāḥ): greatly radiant, of great splendor

• रुद्राः (rudrāḥ): Rudras

• तु (tu): indeed

• एकादश (ekādaśa): eleven

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): are remembered/are traditionally enumerated

• तस्याम् (tasyām): in/from her (feminine, i.e., Surabhī)

• एव (eva): precisely/indeed

• सुरभ्याम् (surabhyām): Surabhī (the divine cow)

• च (ca): and

• गावः (gāvaḥ): cows

• यज्ञेश्वराः (yajñeśvarāḥ): lords/presiding deities of sacrifice, those who govern yajña

• च (ca): and

• वै (vai): verily/indeed.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Senānī
• Rudras (Eleven)
• Surabhī
• Gāvaḥ (Sacred Cows)
• Yajña (Sacrifice)

Tags

• Rudras
• Surabhi
• Sacred Cows
• Yajna
• Cosmic Enumeration

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it preserves a cosmological/ritual enumeration—identifying Senānī among the eleven Rudras and linking Surabhī to the manifestation of sacred cows connected with yajña.

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

By treating cows as yajña-linked and highly sacred, the verse supports the householder’s and ruler’s duty to protect cattle, sustain sacrificial/charitable economy (go-sevā, go-dāna), and uphold dharma through support of Vedic rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it elevates cows as integral to yajña (milk, ghee, and related offerings), implying that proper sacrificial procedure depends on protecting Surabhī’s lineage; no direct Vastu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.