Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठो ऽप्यभवत्तस्मिञ् जलकुम्भे च पूर्ववत् ततः श्वेतश्चतुर्बाहुः साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः अगस्त्य इति शान्तात्मा बभूव ऋषिसत्तमः //

Transliteration

vasiṣṭho 'pyabhavattasmiñ jalakumbhe ca pūrvavat tataḥ śvetaścaturbāhuḥ sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍaluḥ agastya iti śāntātmā babhūva ṛṣisattamaḥ //

Translation

And Vasiṣṭha too came to be in that water-jar, just as before. Then there manifested a fair-complexioned, four-armed one, bearing the sacred thread and the ascetic’s water-pot; serene in spirit, he became the foremost of sages, known as Agastya.

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha

• अपि: also/too

• अभवत्: became/was born

• तस्मिन्: in that

• जलकुम्भे: water-jar (jar of water)

• च: and

• पूर्ववत्: as earlier/just as before

• ततः: then/thereupon

• श्वेतः: fair/white-complexioned

• चतुर्बाहुः: four-armed

• स-आक्ष-सूत्र-कमण्डलुः: with (visible) sacred thread and water-pot (kamaṇḍalu) (and with eyes/with gaze—emphatic descriptor)

• अगस्त्यः: Agastya

• इति: thus/known as

• शान्तात्मा: tranquil-souled/serene-minded

• बभूव: became/came to be

• ऋषिसत्तमः: best/foremost among sages

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) narrating to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vasiṣṭha
• Agastya
• jalakumbha (water-jar)
• kamaṇḍalu (ascetic water-pot)
• yajñopavīta (sacred thread)

Tags

• Sage Origins
• Rishi Lineages
• Puranic Genealogy
• Tapas & Ascetic Symbols
• Matsya Purana Narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it focuses on extraordinary manifestations of sages, emphasizing divine or wondrous origins and the continuity of rishi lineages across cosmic cycles.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ethic that kings and householders should honor and protect sages like Vasiṣṭha and Agastya, whose spiritual authority (śānti, tapas, and dharma) guides society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse highlights ascetic insignia—yajñopavīta (sacred thread) and kamaṇḍalu—signifying Vedic discipline and purity; it does not provide specific Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips in this line.