Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Brahmā–Gāyatrī as a Divine Pair and the Early Genealogies of Creation

Devanagari script

*मनुर् उवाच अहो कष्टतरं चैतद् अङ्गजागमनं विभो कथं न दोषमगमत् कर्मणानेन पद्मभूः //

Transliteration

*manur uvāca aho kaṣṭataraṃ caitad aṅgajāgamanaṃ vibho kathaṃ na doṣamagamat karmaṇānena padmabhūḥ //

Translation

Manu said: “Alas, this indeed is most grievous—this union with one’s own offspring, O Lord. How did the Lotus-born (Brahmā) not incur fault through such an act?”

Word by Word

• मनुः (manuḥ): Manu

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• अहो (aho): alas/indeed

• कष्टतरम् (kaṣṭataraṃ): more grievous/most difficult

• च (ca): and/indeed

• एतत् (etat): this

• अङ्गज-आगमनम् (aṅgaja-āgamanam): approach/union with one’s offspring (incestuous act)

• विभो (vibho): O mighty one/O Lord

• कथम् (katham): how

• न (na): not

• दोषम् (doṣam): fault/sin/blemish

• अगमत् (agamat): went to/attained/incurred

• कर्मणा (karmaṇā): by the act/deed

• अनेन (anena): by this

• पद्मभूः (padmabhūḥ): the Lotus-born, i.e., Brahmā

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Brahma (Padmabhū)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Creation
• Dharma
• Puranic Ethics
• Manu-Matsya Dialogue

FAQs

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

While not describing the flood directly, the verse frames a key Purāṇic concern: even cosmic creation is governed by moral order (dharma), and Manu questions how a creator-figure’s act could be reconciled with that order.

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

Manu’s question reflects the dharmic duty to scrutinize conduct—especially sexual ethics and lineage purity—since kings and householders are expected to uphold social order by treating such transgressions as serious faults.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is ethical and theological, setting a tone of dharma-based inquiry that later chapters can apply to rites, conduct, and sacred norms.