Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Uma’s Austerities and the Slaying of the Deceiver Asura ĀḌi

Devanagari script

*ब्रह्मोवाच न कश्चिच् च विना मृत्युं नरो दानव विद्यते यतस्ततो ऽपि दैत्येन्द्र मृत्युः प्राप्यः शरीरिणा //

Transliteration

*brahmovāca na kaścic ca vinā mṛtyuṃ naro dānava vidyate yatastato 'pi daityendra mṛtyuḥ prāpyaḥ śarīriṇā //

Translation

Brahmā said: O Dānava, no embodied being exists without death. Therefore, O lord of the Daityas, death is unavoidable for every being that has a body, from whatever quarter it may come.

Word by Word

• brahmovāca: Brahmā said

• na: not

• kaścit: anyone

• ca: indeed/also

• vinā: without

• mṛtyum: death

• naraḥ: a person/man

• dānava: O Dānava (demon)

• vidyate: is found/exists

• yatastataḥ: from wherever/from any direction

• api: even/indeed

• daityendra: O king of the Daityas

• mṛtyuḥ: death

• prāpyaḥ: to be met/attainable (inevitable)

• śarīriṇā: for an embodied being

Speaker

• Brahmā

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Daityendra

Tags

• Mortality
• Dharma
• Detachment
• Daityas
• Puranic Dialogue

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it states a universal law of embodied existence—death is inevitable for all who have a body—an idea that underlies dissolution themes in Purāṇic cosmology.

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

By reminding that death is unavoidable, it supports dharmic living: a king should rule justly without arrogance, and a householder should perform duties, charity, and restraint with awareness of life’s impermanence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the verse is philosophical, emphasizing mortality rather than ritual procedure or architectural prescription.