Shloka 157

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

Devanagari script

शास्त्रेषूक्तमसंदिग्धं बहुवारं महाफलम् दशपुत्रसमा कन्या या न स्याच्छीलवर्जिता //

Transliteration

śāstreṣūktamasaṃdigdhaṃ bahuvāraṃ mahāphalam daśaputrasamā kanyā yā na syācchīlavarjitā //

Translation

It is stated in the śāstras—without any doubt, and repeatedly—that it yields great merit: a daughter who is not devoid of good conduct is equal in worth to ten sons.

Word by Word

• śāstreṣu: in the scriptures

• uktam: said/declared

• asaṃdigdham: without doubt/unequivocal

• bahu-vāram: many times/repeatedly

• mahā-phalam: of great fruit/great merit

• daśa-putra-samā: equal to ten sons

• kanyā: a daughter

• yā: who

• na: not

• syāt: would be/is

• chīla-varjitā: lacking good conduct/virtue

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Tags

• Dharma
• Grihastha
• Stri-dharma
• Ethics
• Merit

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a dharma teaching about the spiritual merit (phala) associated with a virtuous daughter, not about cosmic creation or dissolution.

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

It supports righteous social policy and household ethics: a householder should cultivate śīla (good conduct) in children and honor daughters; a king should protect and uphold dharma that recognizes virtue—not gender—as a primary measure of worth and merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is ethical—scriptural merit is linked to moral conduct (śīla), which underpins all rites and household religious life.