Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

ऋषिस्तस्मात्परत्वेन भूतादिरृषयस्ततः ऋषिपुत्रा ऋषीकास्तु मैथुनाद्गर्भसम्भवाः //

Transliteration

ṛṣistasmātparatvena bhūtādirṛṣayastataḥ ṛṣiputrā ṛṣīkāstu maithunādgarbhasambhavāḥ //

Translation

لذلك، وبحكم منزلتهم الأرفع (روحياً) سُمّوا «رِشي»؛ ثم إن الحكماء الأوائل، ابتداءً من بْهوتا وما بعده، يُدعون كذلك. أمّا «رِشيكا» فهنّ بنات الرِشي، وُلدن من الاتحاد الجنسي وحُمِلن في الرحم.

Word by Word

• ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ): sage/seer

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore/from that

• परत्वेन (paratvena): by superiority/by higher status

• भूतादिः (bhūtādiḥ): beginning with Bhūta/the primordial ones starting with Bhūta

• ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ): sages

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter/then

• ऋषिपुत्राः (ṛṣiputrāḥ): children of sages (here: daughters)

• ऋषीकाः (ṛṣīkāḥ): Ṛṣīkās (female descendants/ṛṣi-daughters)

• तु (tu): however/indeed

• मैथुनात् (maithunāt): from sexual union

• गर्भसम्भवाः (garbhasambhavāḥ): womb-born/produced through conception

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhūta
• Ṛṣis
• Ṛṣīkās

Tags

• Creation
• Rishi lineages
• Genealogy
• Puranic taxonomy
• Manvantara context

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it classifies beings in creation by explaining how Ṛṣis are designated by spiritual eminence and how Ṛṣīkās arise through ordinary biological birth.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through lineage-clarity: kings and householders are taught to honor Ṛṣis as spiritually eminent authorities, while also recognizing the social-genealogical categories of descendants (such as Ṛṣīkās) within regulated family life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on Ṛṣi-status and lineage categories, which can affect who is honored in rites (e.g., guru/ṛṣi veneration) and how genealogies are recited in Purāṇic ritual contexts.