Shloka 50

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

श्रुतीनां यत्र कल्पादौ प्रवृत्त्यर्थं जनार्दनः मत्स्यरूपेण मनवे नरसिंहोपवर्णनम् //

Transliteration

śrutīnāṃ yatra kalpādau pravṛttyarthaṃ janārdanaḥ matsyarūpeṇa manave narasiṃhopavarṇanam //

Translation

Here it is described how, at the beginning of a kalpa, Janārdana—assuming the form of the Fish (Matsya) to set the Śruti (the Vedas) in motion—expounded to Manu the account of the Narasiṃha manifestation.

Word by Word

• श्रुतीनाम् (śrutīnām): of the Vedas/śruti

• यत्र (yatra): where/in which context

• कल्पादौ (kalpādau): at the beginning of a kalpa

• प्रवृत्त्यर्थम् (pravṛttyartham): for the purpose of initiating/setting in motion (right activity/continuity)

• जनार्दनः (janārdanaḥ): Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• मत्स्यरूपेण (matsyarūpeṇa): in the form of Matsya (the Fish)

• मनवे (manave): to Manu (Vaivasvata Manu)

• नरसिंहोपवर्णनम् (narasiṃhopavarṇanam): the narration/description of Narasiṃha

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) summarizing the chapter’s subject matter (Matsya–Manu dialogue context)

Entities Mentioned

• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Matsya Avatara
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Narasimha Avatara
• Shruti (Vedas)
• Kalpa

Tags

• Pralaya
• Avatara
• Shruti
• Manvantara
• PuranicNarrative

FAQs

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

It places Matsya’s appearance at the kalpa’s beginning as a restoration/activation of śruti—implying a post-dissolution reset where divine intervention re-establishes Vedic continuity.

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

By grounding dharma in śruti, it implies that royal and household duties must align with Vedic authority; Manu, the archetypal lawgiver, receives divine instruction as the basis for orderly conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is the primacy of śruti as the source that authorizes rites and correct practice at the start of a cosmic cycle.