Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा पितरं जग्मुस् ते वनं तपसे पुनः वृद्धो ऽपि राजभवनं जगामात्मार्थसिद्धये //

Transliteration

ityuktvā pitaraṃ jagmus te vanaṃ tapase punaḥ vṛddho 'pi rājabhavanaṃ jagāmātmārthasiddhaye //

Translation

Après avoir ainsi parlé à leur père, ils retournèrent dans la forêt pour y pratiquer les austérités; et le vieillard, lui aussi, se rendit au palais royal afin d’accomplir son propre dessein.

Word by Word

• iti-uktvā: having thus spoken

• pitaram: to the father

• jagmuḥ/ jagmus: they went

• te: they

• vanam: to the forest

• tapase: for austerity (tapas)

• punaḥ: again

• vṛddhaḥ api: even though aged / even the elder

• rāja-bhavanam: to the royal residence/palace

• jagāma: went

• ātma-artha-siddhaye: for accomplishing his own aim/purpose (self-intended objective).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Matsya Purana’s discourse frame)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Vanaprastha
• Tapas
• Dynasties
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it focuses on a dharmic life-transition—some returning to forest austerities while the elder goes to the palace to complete his remaining aims.

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

It reflects role-based dharma: heirs (or younger members) pursue tapas in the forest, while the elder/king returns to the palace to complete responsibilities or objectives—showing the Purāṇic balance between renunciation and governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the only locational markers are 'forest' (tapasyā) and 'royal palace' (rājabhavana), indicating the two spheres of ascetic discipline and royal administration.