Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Yayāti and the Kings’ Dialogue on Heavenly Worlds

Devanagari script

सर्वाम् इमां पृथिवीं निर्जिगाय ऋद्धां महीमददां ब्राह्मणेभ्यः मेध्यानश्वान्नैकशस् तान्सुरूपांस् तदा देवाः पुण्यभाजो भवन्ति //

Transliteration

sarvām imāṃ pṛthivīṃ nirjigāya ṛddhāṃ mahīmadadāṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ medhyānaśvānnaikaśas tānsurūpāṃs tadā devāḥ puṇyabhājo bhavanti //

Translation

Having conquered this entire earth—prosperous and abundant—he then gifted that land to the Brāhmaṇas; and by giving many well-formed, ritually fit horses, the gods become partakers of the merit arising from such pious acts.

Word by Word

• सर्वाम् (sarvām): entire

• इमाम् (imām): this

• पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm): earth

• निर्जिगाय (nirjigāya): conquered completely

• ऋद्धाम् (ṛddhām): prosperous, flourishing

• महीम् (mahīm): land/earth

• अददाम् (adadām): gave, bestowed

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः (brāhmaṇebhyaḥ): to the Brahmins

• मेध्य (medhya): ritually pure/fit for sacrifice

• अश्वान् (aśvān): horses

• अनेकशस् (naikaśas): in many (numerous) ways/large numbers

• तान् (tān): those

• सुरूपान् (surūpān): well-formed, handsome

• तदा (tadā): then/at that time

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods

• पुण्यभाजः (puṇyabhājaḥ): sharers in merit

• भवन्ति (bhavanti): become

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this discourse block)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmins
• Devas

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dana
• Ashvamedha
• Merit
• Brahmin-gifts

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it emphasizes dharmic kingship—conquest restrained by righteousness and the earning of merit through gifts (dāna).

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

It frames ideal royal conduct: after gaining sovereignty and wealth, a king should redistribute through sanctioned charity—especially land-gifts and valuable sacrificial gifts to Brahmins—thereby converting power into punya (religious merit).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the mention of medhya (sacrificially fit) horses, pointing to Vedic sacrificial economy (often associated with royal rites like Ashvamedha) and the importance of purity/fitness of offerings.