Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Creation: Emergence of the Great Elements and the Navel-Lotus

Devanagari script

पद्मं नाभ्युद्भवं चैकं समुत्पादितवांस्तदा सहस्रपर्णं विरजं भास्कराभं हिरण्मयम् //

Transliteration

padmaṃ nābhyudbhavaṃ caikaṃ samutpāditavāṃstadā sahasraparṇaṃ virajaṃ bhāskarābhaṃ hiraṇmayam //

Translation

Then he brought forth a single lotus arising from the navel—thousand-petalled, stainless, radiant like the sun, and golden in form.

Word by Word

• पद्मम् (padmam): lotus

• नाभ्युद्भवम् (nābhyudbhavam): arising from the navel

• च (ca): and

• एकम् (ekam): one, single

• समुत्पादितवान् (samutpāditavān): produced, caused to arise

• तदा (tadā): then

• सहस्रपर्णम् (sahasraparṇam): thousand-petalled

• विरजम् (virajam): spotless, free from impurity

• भास्कराभम् (bhāskarābham): sun-like in radiance

• हिरण्मयम् (hiraṇmayam): made of gold, golden

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration of creation motifs)

Entities Mentioned

• Lotus (Padma)
• Navel-born lotus (Nābhi-udbhava)
• Solar radiance (Bhāskara)

Tags

• Creation
• Cosmology
• Lotus
• Navel-born
• Puranic symbolism

FAQs

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

It presents a key creation motif: from the divine navel arises the pure, sun-bright, golden lotus—an emblem of ordered manifestation emerging after cosmic stillness.

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

Indirectly, it offers a model of purity and order: like the stainless lotus arising from the center, a king or householder is urged to establish a clean, well-ordered life and realm rooted in dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The thousand-petalled golden lotus is a foundational sacred symbol used in yantras, mandalas, and temple iconography—guiding ritual visualization and auspicious layout principles in Puranic practice.