Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī
*मत्स्य उवाच एवं पृष्टः स विश्वात्मा ब्रह्मणा लोकभावनः उमापतिरुवाचेदं मनसः प्रीतिकारकम् //
*matsya uvāca evaṃ pṛṣṭaḥ sa viśvātmā brahmaṇā lokabhāvanaḥ umāpatiruvācedaṃ manasaḥ prītikārakam //
Matsya said: Thus questioned, Brahmā—the Universal Self, nourisher of the worlds—then spoke. Umāpati (Śiva) too uttered these words, pleasing to the mind.
This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it sets the narrative frame by noting that, when questioned, Brahmā (world-sustainer) and Umāpati (Śiva) speak—indicating authoritative sources for the teaching that follows.
Indirectly: it introduces a response given by exalted figures (Brahmā/Śiva) and relayed by Matsya, signaling that the forthcoming instruction is meant to be trustworthy guidance—often used in the Matsya Purana to ground dharma rules for rulers and householders.
No specific Vāstu/ritual rule appears in this verse; it functions as a transition line (“pleasing to the mind”) introducing the next doctrinal or procedural content that may include ritual or temple-building guidance elsewhere.