Shloka 28

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

नवार्बुदसहस्राणि दश चाष्टौ च धर्मवित् न शोकदुःखदौर्गत्यं तस्य संजायते नृप //

Transliteration

navārbudasahasrāṇi daśa cāṣṭau ca dharmavit na śokaduḥkhadaurgatyaṃ tasya saṃjāyate nṛpa //

Translation

O King, for one who truly knows and upholds Dharma, for nine thousand arbudas and a further eighteen years, no sorrow, suffering, or misfortune arises.

Word by Word

• नव (nava): nine

• अर्बुद (arbuda): a vast number/‘crore-like’ unit (traditionally 10^7 or a very large count)

• सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi): thousands

• दश (daśa): ten

• च (ca): and

• अष्टौ (aṣṭau): eight

• च (ca): and

• धर्मवित् (dharma-vit): knower/follower of Dharma

• न (na): not

• शोक (śoka): grief

• दुःख (duḥkha): pain/suffering

• दौर्गत्यं (daurgatyaṁ): ill-fortune, adversity, wretched condition

• तस्य (tasya): for him/of him

• संजायते (saṁjāyate): is born/arises

• नृप (nṛpa): O king

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (the King)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Nṛpa (King)

Tags

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Merit of virtue
• Karma-phala
• Protection from misfortune

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it teaches the protective fruit of Dharma—freedom from grief, suffering, and adverse destiny for vast spans of time.

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

Addressing the ‘nṛpa’ (king), it frames righteous governance and disciplined living as Dharma in practice, promising stability and the absence of debilitating sorrow and misfortune as the karmic result of sustained ethical conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu Shastra, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse functions as a general dharmic assurance about auspicious outcomes from righteous living.