Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

देवासुरक्षयकराः प्रजानां तु हिताय वै हिरण्यकशिपू राजा वर्षाणामर्बुदं बभौ //

Transliteration

devāsurakṣayakarāḥ prajānāṃ tu hitāya vai hiraṇyakaśipū rājā varṣāṇāmarbudaṃ babhau //

Translation

For the welfare of the people—bringing about the destruction of both devas and asuras—King Hiraṇyakaśipu held sway for an arbuda of years.

Word by Word

• deva: gods (devas)

• asura: demons/anti-gods (asuras)

• kṣaya-karāḥ: causing destruction, bringing about ruin

• prajānām: of the subjects/creatures

• tu: indeed/but

• hitāya: for the benefit/welfare

• vai: verily

• hiraṇyakaśipuḥ: Hiraṇyakaśipu

• rājā: king

• varṣāṇām: of years

• arbudaṃ: an arbuda (a vast number, traditionally 10^7)

• babhau: shone forth/ruled/was prominent

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting dynastic history within the Matsya Purana’s genealogical narration

Entities Mentioned

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Devas
• Asuras
• Prajā (subjects/creatures)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Asura Kings
• Genealogy
• Cosmic Conflict
• Puranic Chronology

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it reflects Purāṇic time-reckoning by assigning Hiraṇyakaśipu an immense reign (arbuda years), a style often used in cosmic-historical narration across yugas and manvantaras.

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

By foregrounding “prajānāṃ hitāya” (for the welfare of subjects), the verse echoes the Purāṇic ideal that rulership is justified by protection and public welfare—though here it is applied ironically/ambiguously to an Asura king within a conflict-driven era.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated in this verse; it is a dynastic-chronology line rather than a Vāstu or ritual instruction.