Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Syamantaka Jewel Episode and the Vrishni–Sainya Genealogies

Devanagari script

प्रसेनस्तु गतो ऽरण्यं मणिरत्नेन भूषितः तं दृष्ट्वा स हतस्तेन गोविन्दः प्रत्युवाच ह हन्मि चैनं दुराचारं शत्रुभूतं हि वृष्णिषु //

Transliteration

prasenastu gato 'raṇyaṃ maṇiratnena bhūṣitaḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvā sa hatastena govindaḥ pratyuvāca ha hanmi cainaṃ durācāraṃ śatrubhūtaṃ hi vṛṣṇiṣu //

Translation

Prasena went into the forest, adorned with that jewel-gem. Seeing that he had been slain because of it, Govinda spoke out: “I shall kill this wicked one, for he has become an enemy among the Vṛṣṇis.”

Word by Word

• प्रसेनः (prasenaḥ): Prasena

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• गतः (gataḥ): went

• अरण्यम् (araṇyam): to the forest

• मणिरत्नेन (maṇiratnena): with the jewel-gem

• भूषितः (bhūṣitaḥ): adorned

• तम् (tam): him/that (Prasena)

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• सः (saḥ): he

• हतः (hataḥ): slain

• तेन (tena): by that/for that (jewel)

• गोविन्दः (govindaḥ): Govinda (Krishna)

• प्रत्युवाच (pratyuvāca): replied/spoke in response

• ह (ha): indeed (emphatic particle)

• हन्मि (hanmi): I will kill

• च (ca): and

• एनम् (enam): this one

• दुराचारम् (durācāram): wicked/evil-doer

• शत्रुभूतम् (śatrubhūtam): become an enemy

• हि (hi): indeed

• वृष्णिषु (vṛṣṇiṣu): among the Vrishnis (Vrishni clan).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting Govinda (Krishna)’s words

Entities Mentioned

• Prasena
• Govinda (Krishna)
• Vṛṣṇi clan

Tags

• Krishna
• Syamantaka
• Dynasties
• Vrishni clan
• Conflict

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse belongs to a dynastic-Krishna narrative (the Syamantaka jewel episode), focusing on conflict and moral culpability rather than cosmic creation or Pralaya.

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

It frames a dharmic concern: when wrongdoing turns someone into a threat to the community (“enemy among the Vṛṣṇis”), the righteous leader is expected to investigate and restrain the evil-doer—ideally through just action rather than impulse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse centers on the jewel-driven tragedy and Govinda’s resolve within the Vrishni clan.