Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ततस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुदरिद्रो महातपाः उवाच दीनया वाचा किमेतदिति पुत्रकाः //

Transliteration

tatastadvacanaṃ śrutvā sudaridro mahātapāḥ uvāca dīnayā vācā kimetaditi putrakāḥ //

Translation

Alors, ayant entendu ces paroles, Sudaridra—le grand ascète, bien qu’extrêmement pauvre—dit d’une voix attristée : «Mes enfants, qu’est-ce donc ?»

Word by Word

• tatas: then

• tad-vacanam: those words/speech

• śrutvā: having heard

• su-daridraḥ: Sudaridra (the very poor one)

• mahā-tapāḥ: great ascetic, one of great austerity

• uvāca: said/spoke

• dīnayā: sorrowful, dejected

• vācā: with a voice/speech

• kim etat: what is this?

• iti: thus

• putrakāḥ: O children (vocative, affectionate).

Speaker

• Sudaridra (a poor ascetic/householder figure in the episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Sudaridra
• putrakāḥ (his children)

Tags

• Dharma
• Poverty
• Householder-life
• Compassion
• Dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a domestic-narrative moment highlighting human suffering and ethical reflection through Sudaridra’s dialogue with his children.

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

It reflects the householder’s responsibility to respond wisely and compassionately in family distress; the Matsya Purana often teaches dharma through such lived situations rather than abstract rules.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it functions as narrative setup for a moral/ethical exchange.