Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Account of the Manvantaras: Manus

Devanagari script

सप्तैव ऋषयः पूर्वे ये मरीच्यादयः स्मृताः आग्नीध्रश्चाग्निबाहुश्च सहः सवन एव च //

Transliteration

saptaiva ṛṣayaḥ pūrve ye marīcyādayaḥ smṛtāḥ āgnīdhraścāgnibāhuśca sahaḥ savana eva ca //

Translation

Indeed, there were seven ancient sages (ṛṣis), remembered as beginning with Marīci; and (among them were) Āgnīdhra, Agnibāhu, Saha, and also Savana.

Word by Word

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• एव (eva): indeed/only

• ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ): sages/seers

• पूर्वे (pūrve): of old/ancient

• ये (ye): who

• मरीच्यादयः (marīcy-ādayaḥ): those beginning with Marīci

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): remembered/recorded in tradition

• आग्नीध्रः (āgnīdhraḥ): Āgnīdhra (proper name)

• च (ca): and

• अग्निबाहुः (agnibāhuḥ): Agnibāhu (proper name)

• सहः (sahaḥ): Saha (proper name)

• सवनः (savanaḥ): Savana (proper name)

• एव (eva): also/indeed

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Saptarishis
• Marici
• Agnidhra
• Agnibahu
• Saha
• Savana

Tags

• Manvantara
• Saptarishis
• Genealogy
• Creation
• Puranic Lists

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it anchors cosmic history by naming primordial sages (Saptarishis) who preserve and transmit sacred knowledge across ages.

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

By emphasizing remembered lineages of ṛṣis, the verse supports a key Purāṇic ethic: rulers and householders should uphold dharma through respect for tradition (smṛti), teachers, and properly transmitted knowledge.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the authority of ṛṣi-lineages as sources for correct rites and calendrical/ceremonial practice preserved through named seers.