Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Account of the Manvantaras: Manus

Devanagari script

एकचित्तः प्रशान्तात्मा शृणु मार्तण्डनन्दन यामा नाम पुरा देवा आसन् स्वायम्भुवान्तरे //

Transliteration

ekacittaḥ praśāntātmā śṛṇu mārtaṇḍanandana yāmā nāma purā devā āsan svāyambhuvāntare //

Translation

With a single-pointed mind and a composed inner self, listen, O son of Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun): in ancient times, during the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, there existed deities known as the Yāmas.

Word by Word

• एकचित्तः: single-minded, one-pointed in attention

• प्रशान्तात्मा: whose inner self is calm and pacified

• शृणु: listen

• मार्तण्डनन्दन: O son of Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun), i.e., Vaivasvata Manu

• यामाः: the Yāmas (a class/group of deities)

• नाम: by name, called

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times

• देवाः: gods, divine beings

• आसन्: were, existed

• स्वायम्भुवान्तरे: in the Svāyambhuva Manvantara (the era of Svāyambhuva Manu).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Mārtaṇḍa (Surya)
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Svāyambhuva Manvantara
• Yāmas

Tags

• Manvantara
• Deva-gana
• Cosmology
• Genealogy
• Puranic chronology

FAQs

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

It situates the teaching within cyclic time (Manvantaras), implying an ordered cosmic chronology rather than describing Pralaya directly; it points to how different divine classes appear in different eras.

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

The instruction “single-minded and calm, listen” models the ideal discipline of a ruler/student: attentive śravaṇa (listening) and inner restraint—foundational virtues for righteous governance and household ethics in Purāṇic guidance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse functions as a narrative preface establishing cosmological context (Manvantara and deva-groups) that later supports ritual timing and tradition-based authority.