Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते हृदयेनेप्सितं नृप एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन वव्रे स वरमुत्तमम् //

Transliteration

varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te hṛdayenepsitaṃ nṛpa evamuktastu devena vavre sa varamuttamam //

Translation

เทพตรัสว่า “จงเลือกพรเถิด ขอความสวัสดีจงมีแก่ท่าน; โอ้พระราชา สิ่งใดที่ใจปรารถนา” ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระราชาจึงทูลขอพรอันประเสริฐ

Word by Word

• वरम् (varam): a boon

• वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva): choose (imperative)

• भद्रम् (bhadram): auspiciousness, good fortune

• ते (te): to you/for you

• हृदयेन (hṛdayena): in the heart, by the heart

• ईप्सितम् (īpsitam): desired, wished-for

• नृप (nṛpa): O king

• एवम् (evam): thus

• उक्तः (uktaḥ): addressed, spoken to

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• देवेन (devena): by the god/the Lord

• वव्रे (vavre): chose, selected

• सः (saḥ): he (the king)

• वरम् (varam): the boon

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): best, excellent.

Speaker

• Narrator (describing the exchange between Lord Matsya and Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya (implied as deva)
• Vaivasvata Manu (nṛpa/king)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-Avatara
• Boon
• Manu
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

It situates the Pralaya episode as a divinely guided event: before the flood unfolds, the Lord offers Manu a boon, indicating foreknowledge and purposeful protection rather than random destruction.

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

It presents the ideal king as receptive to divine counsel and choosing what is “uttama” (best)—implying that a ruler’s desires should align with welfare, protection, and dharma rather than personal indulgence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is narrative—introducing the boon that typically leads to practical instructions (protection, preservation, and right conduct) in the surrounding Matsya–Manu context.