Matsya Purana 238: adhyāyaḥ 238

238.1

śāntividhānavarṇanam.

Garga said—There is a fear of sovereign's death when his palace, gateway, balcony, fort, etc., fall down abruptly—1

238.2

garga uvāca.
prāsādatoraṇāṭṭāla dvāraprākāraveśmanām.
nirnimittantu patanaṃ dṛḍhānāṃ rājamṛtyave .. 238.1 ..

238.3

rajasā vātha dhūmena diśo yatra samākulāḥ.
ādityacandratārāśca vivarṇā bhayavṛddhaye .. 238.2 ..

The directions being covered with dust and smoke, the waning of the Sun, the Moon and the stars foretell the impendig danger of a sovereign—2

238.4

rākṣasā yatra dṛśyante brāhmaṇāśca vidharmiṇaḥ.
ṛtavaścaviparyastā apūjyaḥ pūjyate janaiḥ .. 238.3 ..

When Rakṣasas put on their appearance, when Brâhmaṇas become void of their duties, when seasons are subverted, the unworthy ones are worshipped when stars fall, know these are the signs of death. When the Sun and Moon are eclipsed, when the halos of the Sun and the Moon appear porous; when Ketu rises and when the stars and planets look pale they forebode ills and great danger Where women are quarrelsome where boys kill boys where prescribed religions are not practised, where fire in course of propitiatory offerings does not shine well, where the marching of ants from the north into fire takes place where jars full of water become empty or where the loss of charrified butter occurs or where there is the absence of propitious formulæ the waning of the voice of the Brâhmaṇas, the dimness of the musical instruments in the temples, the hatred towards the preceptors and friends and the worship of the enemies, the loss of the prestige of the Brâhmaṇas and friends, and honoured persons occur, where atheism prevails as to the auspicious effects of Homa and other sacred ceremonies and the destruction of the country or the death of its sovereign is at hand—3 11

238.5

nakṣatrāṇi viyogāni tanmahadbhaya lakṣaṇam.
ketūdayoparāgau ca chidraṃ vā śaśisūryyayoḥ .. 238.4 ..

238.6

graharkṣavikṛtiryatra tatrāpi bhayamādiśet.
striyaśca kalahāyante bālā nighnanti bālakān .. 238.5 ..

238.7

kriyāṇāmucitānāñca vicchittiryatra jāyate.
hūyamānastu yatrāgnirdīpyate na ca śāntiṣu .. 238.6 ..

238.8

pipīlikāśca kravyādā yānti cottaratastathā.
pūrṇakumbhāḥ sravante ca havirvā vipra lupyate .. 238.7 ..

238.9

maṅgalyāśca giro yatra na śrūyante samantataḥ.
kṣavathurbādhate vātha prahasanti sravanti ca .. 238.8 ..

238.10

na ca deveṣu vartante yathāvad brāhmaṇeṣu ca.
mandaghoṣāṇi vādyāni vādyante visvarāṇi ca .. 238.9 ..

238.11

gurumitradviṣo yatra śatrupūjāratā narāḥ.
brāhmaṇān suhṛdo mānyān jano yatrāvamanyate .. 238.10 ..

238.12

śāntimaṅgalahomeṣu nāstikyaṃ yatra jāyate.
rājā vā mriyate tatra sa deśo vā vinaśyati .. 238.11 ..

238.13

rājño vināśe samprāpte nimittāni nibodha me.
brāhmaṇān prathamaṃ dveṣṭi brāhmaṇaiśca virudhyate .. 238.12 ..

Now hear the signs that are seen on the impending ruin of a king The finding of faults of the Brâhmaṇas by the king the harassing Brâhmaṇas and usurping their wealth the wish of killing Brâhmaṇas the disregard of Brâhmaṇas in the performance of religious rites the presence of anger when anybody asks for cutting the love for decrying them the disinclination to praise them, the causing of pain to them out of avarice, not paying attention to one's own duties, the levying of fresh taxes out of avarice, are also most unlucky signs to obviate the consequence of which Indra with Indrānî should be worshipped, Brâhmaṇas should be fed and sacrificial offerings should be made to the Devas The Brâhmaṇas and good men should be worshipped and given presents—12 15

238.14

brāhmaṇasvāni cādatte brāhmaṇāṃśca jighāṃsati.
na ca smarati kṛtyeṣu yācitaśca prakupyati .. 238.13 ..

238.15

ramate nindayā teṣāṃ praśaṃsāṃ nābhinandati.
apūrvantu karaṃ lobhāttathā pātayate jane .. 238.14 ..

238.16

eteṣvabhyarcayecchakraṃ sapatnīkaṃ dvijottama!.
bhojyāni caiva kāryāṇi surāṇāṃ balayastathā
santo viprāśca pūjyāḥ syustebhyo dānañca dīyatām .. 238.15 ..

238.17

gāvaśca deyā dvijapuṅgavebhyo bhuvastathā kāñcanamambarāṇi.
homaśca kāryo'marapūjanañca evaṃ kṛte pāpamupaiti śāntim .. 238.16 ..

High class Brâhmaṇas should be given cows gold and lands sacrifices should be performed, and Devas should be worshipped Thus sins will be destroyed and order restored again—6