Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मरन्ध्रेण परमं पदमापुस्तपोबलात् एवमायुर्धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च //

Transliteration

brahmarandhreṇa paramaṃ padamāpustapobalāt evamāyurdhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargaṃ mokṣaṃ sukhāni ca //

Translation

ریاضت کی قوت سے انہوں نے برہمرَندھر (کپال کے شگاف) کے ذریعے اعلیٰ ترین مقام پا لیا۔ اسی طرح عمر، دولت، علم، جنت، موکش اور طرح طرح کی خوشیاں بھی (حاصل ہوتی ہیں)۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मरन्ध्रेण (brahmarandhreṇa): through the brahmarandhra, the ‘Brahma-aperture’ at the crown of the head

• परमं (paramaṃ): supreme, highest

• पदम् (padam): state, abode, goal

• आपुः (āpuḥ): they attained, they reached

• तपोबलात् (tapobalāt): by the strength/power of tapas (austerity)

• एवम् (evam): thus, in this manner

• आयुः (āyuḥ): lifespan, longevity

• धनम् (dhanam): wealth

• विद्याम् (vidyām): knowledge, learning

• स्वर्गम् (svargam): heaven

• मोक्षम् (mokṣam): liberation

• सुखानि (sukhāni): pleasures, happinesses

• च (ca): and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmarandhra
• Tapas
• Moksha
• Svarga

Tags

• Tapas
• Yoga
• Moksha
• Spiritual Attainment
• Puranic Teaching

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it emphasizes liberation-oriented yoga language (the brahmarandhra and the ‘supreme state’) and presents tapas as a means to attain transcendent goals beyond cosmic cycles.

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

It frames disciplined living (tapas) as a practical source of both worldly aims—longevity, wealth, learning, happiness, heaven—and the highest aim, moksha; this supports the Matsya Purana’s ethic that rulers and householders should cultivate self-restraint and merit, not merely power or pleasure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-rule detail is stated; the ritual-yogic significance is the ‘brahmarandhra’ motif, associated with the upward exit of prāṇa and attainment of the highest state in liberation-oriented practice.