अध्याय ३४
श्लोक 1
मत्स्य-पुराण ३४ एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिः काव्यं स्मृत्वा महाव्रतम् संक्रामयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि
matsya-purāṇa 34 evamuktaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ kāvyaṃ smṛtvā mahāvratam saṃkrāmayāmāsa jarāṃ tadā putre mahātmani
हिन्दी अर्थ
हैं। पूर्वकालमें हैत्यराज हिरण्यकशिपुके त्रिलोकोका शासन करते समय देवासुर-संग्रामके अवसरपर भगवान् श्रीहरि अवतीर्ण हुए थे। इसी प्रकार क्रमशः जब बलि तीनों लोकोंपर अधिष्ठित था, उस समय असुरोंसे व्याप्त होकर अत्यन्त व्याकुल हो उठा था। देवता और असुर-दोनों समानरूपसे उसकी आज्ञाके अधीन थे। अन्तमें (बलि-बन्धनके समय) बलिका विमर्दन करनेके लिये देवताओं और असुरोंके बीच अत्यन्त भयंकर एवं महान् विनाशकारी घोर संग्राम प्रारम्भ हो गया। तब भगवान् विष्णु धर्मकी व्यवस्था करनेके लिये तथा देवताओं और असुरॉके प्रति दिये गये भृगुके शापके कारण पृथ्वीपर मानव-योनिमें उत्पन्न हुए
English
annaka said: — On hearing those words of the prince Purn, king Vay&ti, after juentally reciting the nauu' of Mukra, transferreil his old age to his son; and tlien king Yayati, the. son of Nuhn-n, cheorfully indulged iiirnself in tliC enjov'iient of pleasures. Jfe, lio\ve\er, did not do that at the sacrifice of his royal duti('.s; for, ace udiu to tite times, witli earnest- ness, and in conjiniction uiih the [)rcscrilj('d rules, lie performed the libations to the Deities, an<i the manes of tlie ancestors, was regular in the performance of fraddha and sacrifices, was merciful to the poor and satisfied ilie wishes of the Bralunanas, enimtained his guests by minis- tering to their comforts and supported the Vai»*yas by protecting them; was not cruel to the Sudras and kept thieves down by inflicting proper punishment on them. In that way, the king was alert in his duties and was thus supplied all tlie wants of his subj(!Cts, like the God ludra. That king, valiant like tlie lion, never deviating from the* path of virtue and continuing his pursuits of enjoyment, led a life of sublime comfort and happiness.— 1-7.