Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अथ शिष्टान्प्रवक्ष्यामि साधूनथ ततश्च वै ब्राह्मणाः श्रुतिशब्दाश्च देवानां पशुमूर्तयः संयुज्य ब्रह्मणा ह्यन्तस् तेन सन्तः प्रचक्षते //

Transliteration

atha śiṣṭānpravakṣyāmi sādhūnatha tataśca vai brāhmaṇāḥ śrutiśabdāśca devānāṃ paśumūrtayaḥ saṃyujya brahmaṇā hyantas tena santaḥ pracakṣate //

Translation

والآن سأبيّن الشِّشْطَة (śiṣṭa) أي المهذّبين القدوة، وكذلك السادهُو (sādhū). حقًّا إنّ البراهمة وكلمات الشروتي (Śruti) نفسها، مع الآلهة التي تتخذ صور الحيوانات، متّحدة في الباطن مع برهمن (Brahman)؛ لذلك يُنعتون بـ«سانتَه» (santaḥ) أي القدّيسين.

Word by Word

• atha: now

• śiṣṭān: the cultured/exemplary (people)

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain

• sādhūn: the good/virtuous

• atha: and then

• tataḥ ca vai: and indeed thereafter

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brāhmaṇas

• śruti-śabdāḥ: the words/sound of Śruti (revealed scripture)

• ca: and

• devānām: of the gods

• paśu-mūrtayaḥ: those having animal forms (zoomorphic manifestations)

• saṃyujya: being joined/associated

• brahmaṇā: with Brahman

• hi: indeed

• antaḥ: inwardly/within

• tena: therefore/by that

• santaḥ: saints/good people

• pracakṣate: are declared/are called

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman
• Brāhmaṇas
• Śruti
• Devas (animal-formed manifestations)

Tags

• Dharma
• Śiṣṭācāra
• Śruti
• Sādhu-lakṣaṇa
• Theology

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes a metaphysical unity—Śruti, Brāhmaṇas, and divine manifestations are said to be inwardly joined with Brahman, grounding dharma in a transcendent source.

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

It implies that right conduct should follow śiṣṭācāra (the standards of the cultured) and the authority of Śruti as preserved by Brāhmaṇas; a king or householder upholds dharma by honoring such teachers and aligning actions with revealed norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule appears, but it supports ritual orthodoxy: sacrifices and rites are validated through Śruti-sound and qualified Brāhmaṇas, understood as channels inwardly connected to Brahman.