Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 152

Devanagari script

तत्रापि जातौ श्रेष्ठायां धर्मस्योत्कर्षणेन तु अपुत्रजन्मिनः शेषाः प्राणिनः समवस्थिताः //

Transliteration

tatrāpi jātau śreṣṭhāyāṃ dharmasyotkarṣaṇena tu aputrajanminaḥ śeṣāḥ prāṇinaḥ samavasthitāḥ //

Translation

Même là, au sein de la plus haute classe de naissance, c’est par l’exaltation du dharma que les autres êtres vivants—ceux qui naissent sans fils—sont dûment établis dans leur condition propre.

Word by Word

• tatra api: even there/among them

• jātau: in birth, in the social class/condition of birth

• śreṣṭhāyām: in the श्रेष्ठ (best/highest)

• dharmasya: of dharma, of righteous duty

• utkarṣaṇena: by the raising/exaltation, by the strengthening

• tu: indeed/but

• aputra-janminaḥ: those born without a son, sonless persons

• śeṣāḥ: the rest/remaining

• prāṇinaḥ: living beings/creatures

• samavasthitāḥ: are properly situated/stand established/are arranged accordingly

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Social Order
• Lineage
• Putra
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on dharma as the ordering principle that determines how beings are ‘placed’ or regarded within social and moral hierarchies.

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

It implies that dharma—not merely birth—governs social standing and outcomes; for householders, the verse highlights the importance of lineage/offspring concerns under dharma, while for kings it supports dharmic governance that evaluates merit and duty beyond status alone.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is ethical: dharma is the decisive standard for proper placement and recognition within society, which can indirectly guide ritual eligibility and social rites.