Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 35
लब्ध्वा जन्म न यः कश्चिद् घटयेत्पौरुषं नरः जन्म तस्य वृथा भूतम् अजन्मा तु विशिष्यते //
labdhvā janma na yaḥ kaścid ghaṭayetpauruṣaṃ naraḥ janma tasya vṛthā bhūtam ajanmā tu viśiṣyate //
ผู้ใดได้กำเนิดเป็นมนุษย์แล้วไม่ประกอบความเพียรอันควรแก่บุรุษ (ปุรุษารถะ) กำเนิดของผู้นั้นย่อมสูญเปล่า; แม้ผู้มิได้เกิดเลย (อชนฺมา) ยังนับว่าสูงกว่าผู้นั้น
FAQs
It does not discuss pralaya directly; it teaches moral causality—human birth is meaningful only when used for purposeful effort aligned with dharma.
It frames duty as active endeavor: a king must govern decisively and a householder must practice discipline, charity, and righteousness—mere status or birth without effort is condemned as futile.
No specific vastu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is motivational—undertake prescribed works (including rituals and temple patronage) with sincere effort rather than inertia.