Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

*ब्रह्मोवाच कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यम् अनन्तममरेश्वर स्वल्पेन तपसा देव भवेन्मोक्षो ऽथवा नृणाम् //

Transliteration

*brahmovāca kathamārogyamaiśvaryam anantamamareśvara svalpena tapasā deva bhavenmokṣo 'thavā nṛṇām //

Translation

Brahmā disse: Ó Senhor dos imortais, ó Infinito, como se alcançam a saúde infalível e a soberania? E, ó Deus, pode a libertação (moksha) dos homens surgir com apenas pequena austeridade (tapas)?

Word by Word

• brahmā uvāca: Brahmā said

• katham: how

• ārogyaṃ: health, freedom from disease

• aiśvaryaṃ: lordship, prosperity, sovereignty

• anantam: endless, infinite

• amareśvara: Lord of the immortals (devas)

• svalpena: by a little, by a small amount

• tapasā: by austerity, disciplined spiritual practice

• deva: O God

• bhavet: may occur, may come to be

• mokṣaḥ: liberation

• athavā: or else, alternatively

• nṛṇām: of humans, for men

Speaker

• Brahmā

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Amareśvara (Lord of the Devas)
• Ananta (the Infinite Lord)

Tags

• Tapas
• Moksha
• Arogya
• Aishvarya
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it frames a doctrinal inquiry about the fruits of tapas—health, sovereignty, and especially moksha—setting up a teaching rather than a cosmological account.

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

By pairing ārogya (well-being) and aiśvarya (effective lordship) with moksha, the verse reflects a Purāṇic ideal: rulers and householders seek worldly stability through disciplined conduct (tapas in a broad sense—self-restraint, vows, charity), yet also keep liberation as the highest aim.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu/temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse; its ritual implication is general—tapas (austerity, vrata, disciplined practice) is presented as a means to obtain both worldly benefits and the ultimate goal of moksha.