Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Architecture of Sun–Moon and the ‘Houses of the Gods’

Devanagari script

अग्नेर्व्युष्टौ रजन्यां वै ब्रह्मणाव्यक्तयोनिना अव्याकृतमिदं त्वासीन् नैशेन तमसा वृतम् //

Transliteration

agnervyuṣṭau rajanyāṃ vai brahmaṇāvyaktayoninā avyākṛtamidaṃ tvāsīn naiśena tamasā vṛtam //

Translation

At the end of the night—when the cosmic fire had subsided—this entire world existed in an unmanifest, unformed state, arising from Brahmā whose source is the Unmanifest, and it was enveloped by the darkness of night.

Word by Word

• अग्नेः (agneḥ): of fire / of the cosmic fire

• व्युष्टौ (vyuṣṭau): at the ending, at dawn/when it has ceased

• रजन्यां (rajanyāṃ): in the night

• वै (vai): indeed

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• अव्यक्त-योनिना (avyakta-yoninā): whose womb/source is the Unmanifest (Prakṛti)

• अव्याकृतम् (avyākṛtam): unmade, unformed, undifferentiated

• इदम् (idam): this (universe)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• आसीत् (āsīt): existed

• नैशेन (naiśena): belonging to night, nocturnal

• तमसा (tamasā): by darkness

• वृतम् (vṛtam): covered, enveloped

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this cosmogonic passage in the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma

Tags

• Pralaya
• Creation
• Cosmogony
• Tamas
• Avyakta

FAQs

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

It depicts a pre-creation/pralaya-like condition where the universe remains avyākṛta (undifferentiated) and covered by tamas (darkness), with manifestation arising from the Unmanifest source associated with Brahmā.

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma as grounded in cosmic order: just as creation emerges from disorder and darkness into structure, a king or householder is expected to uphold order (niyama) and clarity over chaos in society and personal conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the key takeaway is conceptual—order and form arise from the formless, a principle later mirrored in Vāstu where measured layout (vyakta) is imposed upon undifferentiated space.