Matsya Purana — Secondary Creation: Appointment of Cosmic Regents and Consecration of Directi..., Shloka 4

Devanagari script

विष्णुं रवीणामधिपं वसूनाम् अग्निं च लोकाधिपतिश्चकार प्रजापतीनामधिपं च दक्षं चकार शक्रं मरुतामधीशम् //

Transliteration

viṣṇuṃ ravīṇāmadhipaṃ vasūnām agniṃ ca lokādhipatiścakāra prajāpatīnāmadhipaṃ ca dakṣaṃ cakāra śakraṃ marutāmadhīśam //

Translation

عيَّنَ فيشنو (Viṣṇu) سيدًا على الآديتْيَة (آلهة الشمس) وعلى الفاسو؛ وجعلَ أَغْنِي (Agni) ربًّا للعوالم؛ وجعلَ دَكْشَ (Dakṣa) رئيسًا للبراجابتي (Prajāpati)؛ وولّى شَكْرَ (Śakra، إندرا) حاكمًا على الماروت (Marut).

Word by Word

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu

• ravīṇām: of the solar beings/Ādityas (lit. of the suns)

• adhipam: overlord, chief

• vasūnām: of the Vasus

• agnim: Agni, Fire-god

• ca: and

• loka-adhipatiḥ: lord of the worlds

• cakāra: (he) made/appointed

• prajāpatīnām: of the Prajāpatis (progenitor-lords)

• adhipam: chief

• dakṣam: Dakṣa

• śakram: Śakra (Indra)

• marutām: of the Maruts (storm-gods)

• adhīśam: supreme ruler, overlord

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the cosmic appointments as part of the Matsya Purana’s creation account)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Adityas (Ravinas)
• Vasus
• Agni
• Daksha
• Prajapatis
• Shakra (Indra)
• Maruts

Tags

• Creation
• Cosmic offices
• Deva hierarchy
• Prajapatis
• Indra

FAQs

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

It reflects the post-creation ordering of the cosmos: divine functions are assigned to specific deities, showing how the universe is administered after creation rather than describing dissolution.

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

By portraying a structured distribution of authority (each deity with a defined jurisdiction), it implicitly supports the dharmic principle that rulers and householders should assign roles, uphold order, and govern according to proper offices and responsibilities.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the prominence of Agni and other deities as functional powers—useful for understanding why specific gods receive offerings in rites aligned with their cosmic domains.