Shloka 150

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

जनिता चापि जातस्य न कश्चिदिति यत्स्फुटम् स्वकर्मणैव जायन्ते विविधा भूतजातयः //

Transliteration

janitā cāpi jātasya na kaściditi yatsphuṭam svakarmaṇaiva jāyante vividhā bhūtajātayaḥ //

Translation

It is plainly declared that, for one who is born, there is in truth no independent “begetter” as the ultimate cause; rather, by one’s own karma alone, the many diverse classes of living beings come to be born.

Word by Word

• जनिता (janitā): begetter/producer

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): even/indeed

• जातस्य (jātasya): of one who is born

• न (na): not

• कश्चित् (kaścit): anyone/any independent agent

• इति (iti): thus

• यत् (yat): which/that

• स्फुटम् (sphuṭam): clearly, distinctly

• स्वकर्मणा एव (svakarmaṇā eva): by one’s own action alone

• जायन्ते (jāyante): are born, come into existence

• विविधाः (vividhāḥ): diverse, manifold

• भूतजातयः (bhūtajātayaḥ): species/classes of beings.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (as instructor) to Vaivasvata Manu (listener)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Karma
• Bhuta-jati (classes of beings)

Tags

• Karma
• Creation
• Rebirth
• Causality
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes karmic causality: the diversity of births arises from beings’ own past actions, a principle that continues across cosmic cycles, including after Pralaya when creation resumes.

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

It underlines moral responsibility: a king and householder should uphold dharma and perform righteous action because future conditions—status, wellbeing, and even birth—are shaped primarily by one’s own karma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is foundational—rituals and righteous conduct are meaningful because actions (karma) are presented as the decisive cause behind future outcomes.