Shloka 187

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ताब्रवीद् एनं भज भक्तान्महाव्रत एष धर्मः सतां ब्रह्मन् न धर्मं लोपयामि ते //

Transliteration

evamuktābravīd enaṃ bhaja bhaktānmahāvrata eṣa dharmaḥ satāṃ brahman na dharmaṃ lopayāmi te //

Translation

Having spoken thus, she said to him: “Honor and serve the devotees (bhaktas), O great observer of vows. This is the dharma of the good, O Brahmin; I will not allow your dharma to be diminished.”

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• uktā: having spoken/said

• bravīt: said/spoke

• enam: to him/this person

• bhaja: honor, serve, associate with

• bhaktān: devotees (of the Lord)

• mahā-vrata: O great-vowed one/one of great observances

• eṣa: this

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteous duty

• satām: of the virtuous/good people

• brahman: O Brahmin/O venerable one

• na: not

• dharmam: dharma

• lopayāmi: I cause to lapse/diminish

• te: your (for you).

Speaker

• A female speaker in the narrative (contextually a righteous woman/queen addressing the man); framed within the Matsya Purana’s dharma discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Bhaktas (devotees)
• Brahman (address/title)

Tags

• Dharma
• Bhakti
• Sadachara
• Virtue ethics
• Devotee-respect

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it emphasizes ethical continuity—protecting dharma through honoring devotees and maintaining righteous vows.

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

It frames a core duty of social and personal governance: uphold sat-dharma by respecting and supporting devotees and the righteous, thereby preventing the decline of one’s own dharma and vows.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or temple-construction rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is devotional ethics—bhakta-seva as a meritorious practice that safeguards dharma.