Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच या सा देहार्धसम्भूता गायत्री ब्रह्मवादिनी जननी या मनोर्देवी शतरूपा शतेन्द्रिया //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca yā sā dehārdhasambhūtā gāyatrī brahmavādinī jananī yā manordevī śatarūpā śatendriyā //

Translation

Lord Matsya said: She who was born from half of his body—Gayatrī, the knower and utterer of Brahman—she who became the mother, the divine consort of Manu, is Śatarūpā, ‘of a hundred forms’, endowed with a hundred faculties (senses/powers).

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच: Matsya said

• या सा: she who indeed

• देहार्ध-सम्भूता: born from half of the body

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī (sacred personified power of the Gayatri mantra / Vedic metre)

• ब्रह्म-वादिनी: speaker/expounder of Brahman, one who proclaims sacred knowledge

• जननी: mother

• या: who

• मनोः देवी: the goddess/consort of Manu

• शतरूपा: Śatarūpā (the one with a hundred forms)

• शतेन्द्रिया: possessing a hundred indriyas—faculties/senses/powers

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu’s Matsya avatara)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Gayatri
• Brahman
• Manu
• Shatarupa

Tags

• Creation
• Manvantaras
• Genealogy
• Divine Feminine
• Vedic Mantra

FAQs

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

It focuses on creation and lineage: Shatarūpā arises as a primordial mother-figure (linked with Gayatrī and sacred knowledge), establishing the human line through Manu rather than describing dissolution.

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

By presenting Manu’s divine consort as ‘brahma-vādinī’ (rooted in sacred wisdom), it implies that righteous governance and household life should be grounded in Vedic discipline, learning, and progeny-supporting dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The explicit ritual cue is Gayatrī—central to daily recitation and initiation (sandhyā, japa). While not a Vāstu rule, it anchors ritual orthopraxy that later supports temple and household rites described elsewhere in the Matsya Purana.