Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

प्रत्यङ्गानि तु धर्मस्य चेत्येतल्लक्षणं स्मृतम् ऋषिभिर्धर्मतत्त्वज्ञैः पूर्वैः स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे //

Transliteration

pratyaṅgāni tu dharmasya cetyetallakṣaṇaṃ smṛtam ṛṣibhirdharmatattvajñaiḥ pūrvaiḥ svāyambhuve 'ntare //

Translation

«وهذه تُذْكَرُ على أنها العلامات المُعَرِّفة، أي الأعضاء الفرعية (pratyaṅga) للدارما، وقد علّمها الرِّشيّون الأقدمون العارفون بحقيقة الدارما، في مَنڤَنْتَرا سْفايَمبهوڤا.»

Word by Word

• pratyaṅgāni: subsidiary limbs, ancillary factors

• tu: indeed/and

• dharmasya: of dharma

• ca: and/also

• iti: thus

• etat: this

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic, defining mark

• smṛtam: remembered, recorded in tradition

• ṛṣibhiḥ: by sages/seers

• dharma-tattva-jñaiḥ: by those who know the reality/principle of dharma

• pūrvaiḥ: by the ancients

• svāyambhuve: in (the period of) Svāyambhuva Manu

• antare: within, during (the Manvantara)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛṣis
• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Svāyambhuva Manvantara
• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Dharma-Lakshana
• Manvantara
• Smriti
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it anchors dharma-teachings in cosmic time by citing the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, implying that dharma is an inherited, trans-Manvantara tradition preserved by seers.

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

It frames dharma as having identifiable “subsidiary limbs” and as being grounded in authoritative ṛṣi-tradition; for kings and householders, this means governance and conduct should follow established dharma-criteria rather than personal preference.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or iconography rule is stated here; the verse functions as a textual marker introducing/validating dharma-definitions, which can later support ritual and rule-based disciplines by appealing to ancient ṛṣi authority.