Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Asuras; Birth of Aurva Fire; Countering Tamasī Māyā through ..., Shloka 41

Devanagari script

अयोगे केशधरणम् असंकल्पव्रतक्रियां अब्रह्मचर्ये चर्या च त्रयं स्याद् दम्भसंज्ञकम् //

Transliteration

ayoge keśadharaṇam asaṃkalpavratakriyāṃ abrahmacarye caryā ca trayaṃ syād dambhasaṃjñakam //

Translation

യോഗമില്ലാതെ ജടാധാരണം, സങ്കൽപമില്ലാതെ വ്രത-ക്രിയകൾ, ബ്രഹ്മചര്യമില്ലാതെ ആചാരത്തിന്റെ പുറംകാഴ്ച—ഇവ മൂന്നും ‘ദംഭം’ (കപടധർമ്മം) എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ayoge: in the absence of true yoga/fitness/inner discipline

• keśa-dharaṇam: wearing/keeping the hair (e.g., matted locks) as a mark

• asaṅkalpa: without a genuine intention/resolve

• vrata-kriyām: vow-practices and ritual acts

• abrahmacarye: when celibacy/self-restraint is absent

• caryā: conduct/observance (often religious behavior)

• ca: and

• trayam: the three

• syāt: is/should be

• dambha-saṃjñakam: termed/known as hypocrisy (dambha).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, on dharma and the signs of hypocrisy)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Brahmacarya
• Vrata
• Saṅkalpa

Tags

• Dharma
• Asceticism
• Vrata
• Brahmacarya
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is an ethical teaching defining dambha—false religiosity based on external signs and insincere practice.

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

It warns rulers and householders to value inner integrity over public display: vows, rituals, and religious patronage should be grounded in sincere resolve and self-restraint, not reputation-building.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it stresses that vrata and kriyā require saṅkalpa (true intention); without it, ritual becomes mere performance and is classified as dambha.