Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

आकाशविकृतेर् वायुः शब्दस्पर्शगुणो ऽभवत् वायोश् च स्पर्शतन्मात्रात् तेजश् चाविर् अभूत् ततः //

Transliteration

ākāśavikṛter vāyuḥ śabdasparśaguṇo 'bhavat vāyoś ca sparśatanmātrāt tejaś cāvir abhūt tataḥ //

Translation

Aus der Umwandlung des Äthers (ākāśa) entstand der Wind (vāyu), der die Eigenschaften von Klang und Berührung besitzt. Und aus dem Wind—durch die feine Wesenheit (tanmātra) der Berührung—manifestierte sich daraufhin das Feuer (tejas).

Word by Word

• ākāśa-vikṛteḥ: from the transformation/modification of ether

• vāyuḥ: air/wind

• śabda-sparśa-guṇaḥ: having the qualities of sound and touch

• abhavat: came into being

• vāyoḥ: from air

• ca: and

• sparśa-tanmātrāt: from the subtle element/essence of touch

• tejaḥ: fire, radiance, heat (the fire-element)

• ca: and

• āviḥ: manifest, evident

• abhūt: arose, came forth

• tataḥ: then, thereafter

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Ākāśa
• Vāyu
• Tanmātra
• Tejas

Tags

• Creation
• Sarga
• Tanmātras
• Mahābhūtas
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

It presents the creation-side sequence of elemental evolution: ether transforms into air (adding touch to sound), and from air’s touch-subtlety fire manifests—an ordered cosmology that is later reversed conceptually during dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in cosmic order: the same structured progression (cause → subtle essence → manifest form) is a model for disciplined governance and household life—actions should follow proper sequence, restraint, and intelligible causality.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse itself is cosmological, but its element-theory underlies Vāstu and ritual logic: fire (tejas) is derived through touch-subtlety and becomes central to homa/agnikārya and to Vāstu considerations of heat, light, and the placement/function of the fire-space (agni).