Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

विष्वक्सेनाभिधानं तु राजा राज्ये ऽभ्यषेचयत् मानसे मिलिताः सर्वे ततस्ते योगिनां वराः //

Transliteration

viṣvaksenābhidhānaṃ tu rājā rājye 'bhyaṣecayat mānase militāḥ sarve tataste yogināṃ varāḥ //

Translation

അനന്തരം രാജാവ് ‘വിഷ്വക്സേന’ എന്ന പേരുള്ളവനെ രാജസ്ഥാനത്ത് അഭിഷേകം ചെയ്തു. തുടർന്ന് മാനസ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ യോഗികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരായ എല്ലാവരും ഒന്നിച്ചു കൂടി.

Word by Word

• विष्वक्सेनाभिधानम् (viṣvaksenābhidhānam): bearing the name ‘Viṣvaksena’

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• राजा (rājā): the king

• राज्ये (rājye): in the kingdom/into kingship

• अभ्यषेचयत् (abhyaṣecayat): anointed, consecrated, installed

• मानसे (mānase): at Mānas(a), in the Mānas(a) region (often understood as the sacred lake ‘Mānasa’)

• मिलिताः (militāḥ): assembled, gathered

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• ततस् (tatas): thereafter

• ते (te): those

• योगिनाम् (yoginām): of yogins/ascetics

• वराः (varāḥ): the excellent, the best.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) narrating to Vaivasvata Manu (likely narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Viṣvaksena
• the King (rājā)
• yogins (yoginaḥ)
• Mānasa (sacred lake/region)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Consecration
• Dynasties
• Rishis/Yogins
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it focuses on political succession—royal consecration—and the gathering of yogins at a sacred place.

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

It highlights the dharmic ideal that kingship is not merely seized but ritually established (abhisheka) and associated with the sanction/presence of holy yogins—implying rule should be aligned with sacred authority and counsel.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the king’s abhiṣeka (consecration/installation). The mention of Mānasa suggests a sacred locus where religious assemblies occur, though no specific Vāstu or temple rule is stated in this verse.