Matsya Purana — Chapter 21
MtP 21.1
कथं सत्त्वरुतज्ञो ऽभूद् ब्रह्मदत्तो धरातले तच्चाभवत्कस्य कुले चक्रवाकचतुष्टयम्
kathaṃ sattvarutajño 'bhūd brahmadatto dharātale taccābhavatkasya kule cakravākacatuṣṭayam
How did Brahmadatta come to know the cries of all creatures on earth? And in whose family was that group of four cakravāka birds born?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.2
तस्मिन्नेव पुरे जातास् ते च चक्राह्वयास्तदा वृद्धद्विजस्य दायादा विप्रा जातिस्मराः पुरा
tasminneva pure jātās te ca cakrāhvayāstadā vṛddhadvijasya dāyādā viprā jātismarāḥ purā
And those four called the cakravākas were then born in that very city, sons of an aged brahmin, brahmins who remembered their former births,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.3
धृतिमांस्तत्त्वदर्शी च विद्याचण्डस् तपोत्सुकः नामतः कर्मतश्चैते सुदरिद्रस्य ते सुताः
dhṛtimāṃstattvadarśī ca vidyācaṇḍas tapotsukaḥ nāmataḥ karmataścaite sudaridrasya te sutāḥ
Dhṛtimān, Tattvadarśin, Vidyācaṇḍa and Tapotsuka—so by name and by deed—they were the sons of Sudaridra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.4
तपसे बुद्धिरभवत् तदा तेषां द्विजन्मनाम् यास्यामः परमां सिद्धिम् इत्य् ऊचुस् ते द्विजोत्तमाः
tapase buddhirabhavat tadā teṣāṃ dvijanmanām yāsyāmaḥ paramāṃ siddhim ity ūcus te dvijottamāḥ
Then the mind of those twice-born turned to ascetic practice, and those best of brahmins said, "We shall go to the highest perfection."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.5
ततस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुदरिद्रो महातपाः उवाच दीनया वाचा किमेतदिति पुत्रकाः
tatastadvacanaṃ śrutvā sudaridro mahātapāḥ uvāca dīnayā vācā kimetaditi putrakāḥ
Then, hearing that speech of theirs, Sudaridra, the great ascetic, said in a pitiful voice, "What is this, little sons?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.6
अधर्म एष इति वः पिता तान् अभ्यवारयत् वृद्धं पितरमुत्सृज्य दरिद्रं वनवासिनः
adharma eṣa iti vaḥ pitā tān abhyavārayat vṛddhaṃ pitaramutsṛjya daridraṃ vanavāsinaḥ
"This is unrighteousness," said your father, and he restrained them: "(For you) to dwell in the forest, abandoning an aged and destitute father—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.7
को नु धर्मो ऽत्र भविता मत्त्यागाद्गतिरेव वा ऊचुस्ते कल्पिता वृत्तिस् तव तात वदस्व तत्
ko nu dharmo 'tra bhavitā mattyāgādgatireva vā ūcuste kalpitā vṛttis tava tāta vadasva tat
what righteousness, then, will there be in this, or what good course, from abandoning me?" They said: "A livelihood has been arranged for you, father; declare it (thus):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 21.8
वित्तमेतत्पुरो राज्ञः स ते दास्यति पुष्कलम् धनं ग्रामसहस्राणि प्रभाते पठतस्तव
vittametatpuro rājñaḥ sa te dāsyati puṣkalam dhanaṃ grāmasahasrāṇi prabhāte paṭhatastava
This wealth (lies) before the king; he will give you abundant riches, thousands of villages, when you recite (this) in the morning:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.9
ये विप्रमुख्याः कुरुजाङ्गलेषु दाशास्तथा दाशपुरे मृगाश्च कालञ्जरे सप्त च चक्रवाका ये मानसे ते वयमत्र सिद्धाः
ye vipramukhyāḥ kurujāṅgaleṣu dāśāstathā dāśapure mṛgāśca kālañjare sapta ca cakravākā ye mānase te vayamatra siddhāḥ
"Those who were chief brahmins among the Kurujāṅgalas, and likewise the fishermen in Dāśapura, and the deer in Kālañjara, and the seven cakravākas who were on the Mānasa (lake)—we are they, here made perfect."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.10
इत्युक्त्वा पितरं जग्मुस् ते वनं तपसे पुनः वृद्धो ऽपि राजभवनं जगामात्मार्थसिद्धये
ityuktvā pitaraṃ jagmus te vanaṃ tapase punaḥ vṛddho 'pi rājabhavanaṃ jagāmātmārthasiddhaye
Having said this to their father, they went again to the forest for ascetic practice; and the old man too went to the king's palace to accomplish his own purpose.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.11
अनघो नाम वैभ्राजः पाञ्चालाधिपतिः पुरा पुत्रार्थी देवदेवेशं हरिं नारायणं प्रभुम्
anagho nāma vaibhrājaḥ pāñcālādhipatiḥ purā putrārthī devadeveśaṃ hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ prabhum
Formerly there was a lord of the Pāñcālas named Anagha, son of Vibhrāja; desiring a son, (he worshipped) Hari Nārāyaṇa, the lord, the god of the gods,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.12
आराधयामास विभुं तीव्रव्रतपरायणः ततः कालेन महता तुष्टस्तस्य जनार्दनः
ārādhayāmāsa vibhuṃ tīvravrataparāyaṇaḥ tataḥ kālena mahatā tuṣṭastasya janārdanaḥ
he worshipped the mighty one, devoted to severe vows; then after a long time Janārdana was pleased with him:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.13
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते हृदयेनेप्सितं नृप एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन वव्रे स वरमुत्तमम्
varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te hṛdayenepsitaṃ nṛpa evamuktastu devena vavre sa varamuttamam
"Choose a boon, blessings on you—whatever your heart desires, O king." Thus addressed by the god, he chose the highest boon:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.14
पुत्रं मे देहि देवेश महाबलपराक्रमम् पारगं सर्वशास्त्राणां धार्मिकं योगिनां परम्
putraṃ me dehi deveśa mahābalaparākramam pāragaṃ sarvaśāstrāṇāṃ dhārmikaṃ yogināṃ param
"Grant me a son, O lord of gods, of great strength and valour, who has gone to the far shore of all the sciences, righteous, foremost among yogins;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.15
सर्वसत्त्वरुतज्ञं मे देहि योगिनमात्मजम् एवमस्त्विति विश्वात्मा तमाह परमेश्वरः
sarvasattvarutajñaṃ me dehi yoginamātmajam evamastviti viśvātmā tamāha parameśvaraḥ
grant me a son who is a yogin and knows the cries of all creatures." "So be it," said to him the supreme lord, the self of all;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.16
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ततः स तस्य पुत्रो ऽभूद् ब्रह्मदत्तः प्रतापवान्
paśyatāṃ sarvadevānāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata tataḥ sa tasya putro 'bhūd brahmadattaḥ pratāpavān
and there, in the sight of all the gods, he vanished. Then that mighty Brahmadatta became his son,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.17
सर्वसत्त्वानुकम्पी च सर्वसत्त्वबलाधिकः सर्वसत्त्वरुतज्ञश्च सर्वसत्त्वेश्वरेश्वरः
sarvasattvānukampī ca sarvasattvabalādhikaḥ sarvasattvarutajñaśca sarvasattveśvareśvaraḥ
compassionate to all creatures, surpassing all creatures in strength, knowing the cries of all creatures, lord of the lords of all creatures.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.18
अहसत्तेन योगात्मा स पिपीलिकरागतः यत्र तत्कीटमिथुनं रममाणमवस्थितम्
ahasattena yogātmā sa pipīlikarāgataḥ yatra tatkīṭamithunaṃ ramamāṇamavasthitam
That one whose self was yoga laughed at that, having come to the ants('place), where that pair of insects stood taking their pleasure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 21.19
ततः सा संनतिर्दृष्ट्वा तं हसन्तं सुविस्मिता किमप्याशङ्क्य मनसा तमपृच्छन्नरेश्वरम्
tataḥ sā saṃnatirdṛṣṭvā taṃ hasantaṃ suvismitā kimapyāśaṅkya manasā tamapṛcchannareśvaram
Then Saṃnati, seeing him laughing, was much astonished, and suspecting something in her mind, asked that lord of men:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.20
अकस्मादतिहासस्ते किमर्थमभवन्नृप हास्यहेतुं न जानामि यदकाले कृतं त्वया
akasmādatihāsaste kimarthamabhavannṛpa hāsyahetuṃ na jānāmi yadakāle kṛtaṃ tvayā
"Why, O king, did this great laughter of yours arise all of a sudden? I do not know the cause of the laughter that you made at an unfitting moment."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.21
अवदद्राजपुत्रो ऽपि स पिपीलिकभाषितम् रागवाग्भिः समुत्पन्नम् एतद्धास्यं वरानने
avadadrājaputro 'pi sa pipīlikabhāṣitam rāgavāgbhiḥ samutpannam etaddhāsyaṃ varānane
And the prince said: "This laughter arose from the ants' speech, from their words of passion, O fair-faced one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.22
न चान्यत्कारणं किंचिद् धास्यहेतौ शुचिस्मिते न सामन्यत् तदा देवी प्राहालीकमिदं वचः
na cānyatkāraṇaṃ kiṃcid dhāsyahetau śucismite na sāmanyat tadā devī prāhālīkamidaṃ vacaḥ
"And there is no other cause whatsoever for the laughter, O bright-smiling one." She did not believe it then; the queen spoke this untrue word:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.23
अहमेवाद्य हसिता न जीविष्ये त्वयाधुना कथं पिपीलिकालापं मर्त्यो वेत्ति विना सुरान्
ahamevādya hasitā na jīviṣye tvayādhunā kathaṃ pipīlikālāpaṃ martyo vetti vinā surān
"It is I alone who have been laughed at today; I will not go on living with you now. How can a mortal, apart from the gods, understand the talk of ants?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.24
तस्मात्त्वयाहम् एवेह हसिता किमतः परम् ततो निरुत्तरो राजा जिज्ञासुस्तत्पुरो हरेः
tasmāttvayāham eveha hasitā kimataḥ param tato niruttaro rājā jijñāsustatpuro hareḥ
Therefore it is I alone here who have been laughed at by you—what else could it be?" Then the king, having no answer, wishing to know, before Hari
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.25
आस्थाय नियमं तस्थौ सप्तरात्रमकल्मषः स्वप्ने प्राह हृषीकेशः प्रभाते पर्यटन्पुरम्
āsthāya niyamaṃ tasthau saptarātramakalmaṣaḥ svapne prāha hṛṣīkeśaḥ prabhāte paryaṭanpuram
took up an observance and stood (fasting) for seven nights, free of fault; Hṛṣīkeśa spoke to him in a dream: "In the morning, as you wander through the city,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.26
वृद्धद्विजो यस्तद्वाक्यात् सर्वं ज्ञास्यस्यशेषतः इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे विष्णुः प्रभाते ऽथ नृपः पुरात्
vṛddhadvijo yastadvākyāt sarvaṃ jñāsyasyaśeṣataḥ ityuktvāntardadhe viṣṇuḥ prabhāte 'tha nṛpaḥ purāt
there is an aged twice-born; from his words you will know everything, without remainder." Having said this, Viṣṇu vanished; then in the morning the king, out of the city,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.27
निर्गच्छन्मन्त्रिसहितः सभार्यो वृद्धमग्रतः गदन्तं विप्रम् आयान्तं तं वृद्धं संददर्श ह
nirgacchanmantrisahitaḥ sabhāryo vṛddhamagrataḥ gadantaṃ vipram āyāntaṃ taṃ vṛddhaṃ saṃdadarśa ha
going forth together with his ministers and with his wife, saw before him that old brahmin coming along, speaking.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.28
ये विप्रमुख्याः कुरुजाङ्गलेषु दाशास्तथा दाशपुरे मृगाश्च कालञ्जरे सप्त च चक्रवाका ये मानसे ते वयमत्र सिद्धाः
ye vipramukhyāḥ kurujāṅgaleṣu dāśāstathā dāśapure mṛgāśca kālañjare sapta ca cakravākā ye mānase te vayamatra siddhāḥ
"Those who were chief among brahmins in the Kurujāṅgalas, and the fishermen in Dāśapura, and the deer in Kālañjara, and the seven cakravāka birds who were at Mānasa—those are we, here now accomplished (in yoga)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.29
इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्ताभ्यां स पपात शुचा ततः जातिस्मरत्वमगमत् तौ च मन्त्रिवराव् उभौ
ityākarṇya vacastābhyāṃ sa papāta śucā tataḥ jātismaratvamagamat tau ca mantrivarāv ubhau
Hearing this speech from the two of them, he then fell down with grief; he attained recollection of his former births, and so did both those two chief ministers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.30
कामशास्त्रप्रणेता च बाभ्रव्यस्तु सुबालकः पाञ्चाल इति लोकेषु विश्रुतः सर्वशास्त्रवित्
kāmaśāstrapraṇetā ca bābhravyastu subālakaḥ pāñcāla iti lokeṣu viśrutaḥ sarvaśāstravit
And Bābhravya became the author of the treatise on love, (also called) Subālaka, renowned among people as "the Pāñcāla," knower of all the treatises;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.31
कण्डरीको ऽपि धर्मात्मा वेदशास्त्रप्रवर्तकः भूत्वा जातिस्मरौ शोकात् पतिताव् अग्रतस्तदा
kaṇḍarīko 'pi dharmātmā vedaśāstrapravartakaḥ bhūtvā jātismarau śokāt patitāv agratastadā
and Kaṇḍarīka too, righteous of soul, a promulgator of the Veda and the treatises—the two of them, becoming recollectors of their births, then fell down before (him) out of grief.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.32
हा वयं योगविभ्रष्टाः कामतः कर्मबन्धनाः एवं विलप्य बहुशस् त्रयस्ते योगपारगाः
hā vayaṃ yogavibhraṣṭāḥ kāmataḥ karmabandhanāḥ evaṃ vilapya bahuśas trayaste yogapāragāḥ
"Alas, we have fallen from yoga; through desire we are bound by karma!" Having lamented thus many times, those three, gone to the far shore of yoga,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.33
विस्मयाच्छ्राद्धमाहात्म्यम् अभिनन्द्य पुनः पुनः ततस्तस्मै धनं दत्त्वा प्रभूतग्रामसंयुतम्
vismayācchrāddhamāhātmyam abhinandya punaḥ punaḥ tatastasmai dhanaṃ dattvā prabhūtagrāmasaṃyutam
out of astonishment praised again and again the greatness of the śrāddha rite; then, having given him wealth together with abundant villages,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.34
विसृज्य ब्राह्मणं तं च वृद्धं धनमुदान्वितम् आत्मीयं नृपतिः पुत्रं नृपलक्षणसंयुतम्
visṛjya brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ ca vṛddhaṃ dhanamudānvitam ātmīyaṃ nṛpatiḥ putraṃ nṛpalakṣaṇasaṃyutam
and having dismissed that old brahmin, joyful with the wealth, the king (took) his own son, endowed with the marks of a king,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.35
विष्वक्सेनाभिधानं तु राजा राज्ये ऽभ्यषेचयत् मानसे मिलिताः सर्वे ततस्ते योगिनां वराः
viṣvaksenābhidhānaṃ tu rājā rājye 'bhyaṣecayat mānase militāḥ sarve tataste yogināṃ varāḥ
named Viṣvaksena, and the king consecrated him in the kingship. Then all those best of yogins met at Mānasa—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.36
ब्रह्मदत्तादयस्तस्मिन् पितृसक्ता विमत्सराः संनतिश्चाभवद्भ्रष्टा मयैतत्किल कारितम्
brahmadattādayastasmin pitṛsaktā vimatsarāḥ saṃnatiścābhavadbhraṣṭā mayaitatkila kāritam
Brahmadatta and the others—there, devoted to the fathers, free of envy. And Saṃnati said, "It was indeed I who brought this about:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.37
राज्यत्यागफलं सर्वं यदेतद् अभिलष्यते तथेति प्राह राजा तु पुनस्तामभिनन्दयन्
rājyatyāgaphalaṃ sarvaṃ yadetad abhilaṣyate tatheti prāha rājā tu punastāmabhinandayan
all this, which is desired, is the fruit of the renunciation of the kingdom." "So be it," said the king, again congratulating her:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.38
त्वत्प्रसादादिदं सर्वं मयैतत्प्राप्यते फलम् ततस्ते योगमास्थाय सर्व एव वनौकसः
tvatprasādādidaṃ sarvaṃ mayaitatprāpyate phalam tataste yogamāsthāya sarva eva vanaukasaḥ
"By your grace all this fruit is obtained by me." Then they all, taking up yoga, dwelling in the forest,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.39
ब्रह्मरन्ध्रेण परमं पदमापुस्तपोबलात् एवमायुर्धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च
brahmarandhreṇa paramaṃ padamāpustapobalāt evamāyurdhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargaṃ mokṣaṃ sukhāni ca
attained the highest station through the brahmarandhra by the power of their austerity. Thus lifespan, wealth, knowledge, heaven, liberation, and pleasures—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.40
प्रयच्छन्ति सुतान्राज्यं नृणां प्रीताः पितामहाः य इदं पितृमाहात्म्यं ब्रह्मदत्तस्य च द्विजाः
prayacchanti sutānrājyaṃ nṛṇāṃ prītāḥ pitāmahāḥ ya idaṃ pitṛmāhātmyaṃ brahmadattasya ca dvijāḥ
The pleased grandfathers bestow on men sons and kingship. Those twice-born who (recite) this glorification of the ancestors and of Brahmadatta —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 21.41
द्विजेभ्यः श्रावयेद्यो वा शृणोत्यथ पठेत्तु वा कल्पकोटिशतं साग्रं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
dvijebhyaḥ śrāvayedyo vā śṛṇotyatha paṭhettu vā kalpakoṭiśataṃ sāgraṃ brahmaloke mahīyate
— whoever has it recited to brahmins, or hears it, or reads it, is honoured in the world of Brahmā for a full hundred crores of kalpas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition