Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana

by Chaitali Kadia | 2021 | 91,183 words

This page relates ‘Ethics and moral duties of the King’ of the study on the historical elements of the Matsya-purana: one of the eighteen Mahapuranas which are Sanskrit texts that have preserved the cultural heritage, philosophy, religion, geography, etc of ancient India. This Matsyapurana was originally written in 20,000 verses and deals with topics such as architecture, ancient history, polity, religion and philosophy.

Ethics and moral duties of the King

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The king also has some moral duties. There are many instances where the king has lost his kingdom due to lack of humility and morality and many have also lived in the forest under the weight of humility.^[1] In order to be humble, it has always been advised to serve the pious, the Vedas and the old Brahmins .^[2] For example Vena and Nimi were expelled for their immoral behaviour. Pṛthu and other kings, on the other hand, gained dominance over different regions for their morality. The king must always leave the wild nature and try to conquer the senses. Because Jitendriya Rāja can protect his people.^[3] The king should always strive to give up last, anger, greed, enjoy. Then the king will be able to win everyone.^[4] The king should give up hunting, drinking and gambling because many kings have perished for it in the past.

The king should not sleep in vain, especially during the day. The king should not be called harsh words and should not be severely punished. And no one should indirectly condemn by the king.^[5] The king must be free from two kinds of faults. One is the fault of money and other is the fault about money. Protection of fortifications, renovation of forts and consolidation of funds from different places. And the beginning of dishonest work is financial pollution.^[6] These three religions are absolutely beneficial for the kings, not to turn away from war easily, to take care of the people and to take care of the Brahmins.^[7] It is also the king’s duty to protect the afflicted, the helpless, and the widows.^[8] The king should always be endowed with the royal emblem, the protector of the poor and enterprising.^[9] The king must always keep in mind that the people will be attached to any work and will be annoyed with any work. Thinking of this form, the king should always do the work with affection and give up the work with annoyance. Since wealth comes to the king’s house because of the people, king should always work for the happiness of the people.^[10] The king should call his people by his good, middle and inferior servants to keep them land remain steadfast in the war without giving up his Kṣatradharma .^[11]

There are examples in the Matsya Purāṇa that the king must look beautiful because many times the people do not like him because of his appearance. The people were not found of Pururava as it was not good to see him. As a result, Pururava did austerities in the hope of gaining beauty.^[12] After returning from the king’s gurukula, the Brahmins should worship by donating hair called Brahma-nidhi. And care must be taken that the thief does not steal.^[13] It is said in the Matsya Purāṇa that Brahma himself appointed a king to oppress the animals of evil nature in all creatures. The king always tests men. The one who is honest loves him and the one who is wicked punishes him. In such a king everyone is the best. The king who hopes for heaven must honor the righteous and punish the wicked. And this action should be the absolute royal duty for the king.^[14] The king had to accept many sacrifices in rich gifts.

For the purpose of religious duties he was expected to give generous gifts to the Brahmins^[15] and perform the following sixteen Mahadanas –

Tulapuruṣa-dāna (MP–274)
Hiraṇyagarbha-dāna (MP–275)
Brahmanda-dāna (MP–276)
Kalpapādapa-dāna (MP–277)
Gosahasra-dāna (MP–278)
Hiraṇyakāmadhenu-dāna (MP–279)
Hiraṇyāśva-dāna (MP–280)
Hiraṇyāśvaratha-dāna (MP–281)
Hemahastiratha-dāna (MP–282)
Pañcalāngala-dāna (MP–283)
Hemapṛthvī-dāna (MP–284)
Viśvacakrapra-dāna (MP–285)
Mahākalpalatāpa-dāna (MP–286)
Saptasāgara-dāna (MP–287)
Ratnadhenu-dāna (MP–288)
Mahābhutaghata-dāna (MP–289)

In ancient times all these gifts were made by some famous kings and personalities. Such as–Vasudeva, Ambarisa, Bhargava, Kartaviryārjuna, Prahlāda and Bharata and other kings.^[16] The kings have been told to perform Graha Yajña, Lakṣahoma and Kotihoma (MP–239). The kings were told to perform various rituals and religions so that different deities could be appeased various accidents or evils could be alleviated. This has been specially discussed in the Matsya Purāṇa Chapter 228 to 238.

King Āhuka was prosperous in all respects, and his dynasty did not produce a single king who was untruthful, dull, sacrificial averse to charity, impure and foolish (MP–44/68, 69). Śaśavindu, the son of Citraratha, later became the Cakravarti in emperor (MP–44/18). King Sunitha practiced many kinds of religion and destroyed his enemies (MP-46/6). Yayāti also made a pleasing combination of religion and action according to his rules (MP-34/3).

The king will act wisely so that his weaknesses are not revealed and kept secret. Such a tortoise hides itself inside its shell. It was the king’s duty to expel the traitors and not to trust the faithful completely because faith caused trouble and destruction. Demonstrating the real cause will produce the trust of others. Will show think about money like a deer and power like a lion. The king will be like a fugitive fleeing like a rabbit, strong guard like a pig, sarcastic like a peacock, dutiful like a dog and sweet spoken like a cuckoo (MP-215/68, 69, 70).

Without proper inspection, the king will not eat any food, wear any clothes, and will not accept flowers. The king should never bathe in a crowd or in an unfamiliar lake unless it is examined by a faithful man. King does not ride on an untrained horse. King does not have sex with a stranger.^[17] The king will never have to work harsh. The king must be free from sin.^[18] The king must always keep his senses in check and keep them secret, only then will the king be successful (MP–220/45).