Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच अथ देवो महादेवः पूर्वं कृष्णः प्रजापतिः विहारार्थं स देवेशो मानुषेष्विह जयते //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca atha devo mahādevaḥ pūrvaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ prajāpatiḥ vihārārthaṃ sa deveśo mānuṣeṣviha jayate //

Translation

Sūta said: Then that God—Mahādeva—who formerly appeared as Kṛṣṇa, the Prajāpati, for the sake of divine sport, that Lord of the gods is born here among human beings.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ uvāca: Sūta said

• atha: then/thereupon

• devaḥ: the God

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva (Śiva)

• pūrvam: formerly/previously

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Kṛṣṇa (lit. ‘dark one’, here as an epithet/name)

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (lord of creatures/progenitor)

• vihārārtham: for play/divine sport

• saḥ: he/that one

• deveśaḥ: Lord of the gods

• mānuṣeṣu: among humans

• iha: here (in this world)

• jayate: is born/comes into manifestation

Speaker

• Suta

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Prajapati
• Devesha

Tags

• Shaiva narrative
• Divine incarnation
• Puranic genealogy
• Avatara motif
• Mythic prologue

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it presents an avatāra-style descent where Mahādeva manifests among humans ‘for divine sport,’ a theme that often frames divine intervention in cosmic and moral order rather than dissolution.

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

By stating that the Lord manifests among humans, the verse supports the Purāṇic idea that dharma is taught and restored through divine presence—encouraging kings and householders to align conduct with sacred exemplars and uphold social-religious duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-building rule appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is theological—divine manifestation (janma) legitimizes worship, narration (śravaṇa), and devotional rites centered on Mahādeva as Deveśa.