Shloka 61

Matsya Purana — Description of Gomedaka and Puṣkara Dvīpas; the Lokāloka Boundary; Ocean Tide...

Devanagari script

तस्मात्परिमिता भेदाः स्मृताः कार्यात्मकास्तु वै ते कारणात्मकाश्चैव स्युर्भेदा महदादयः //

Transliteration

tasmātparimitā bhedāḥ smṛtāḥ kāryātmakāstu vai te kāraṇātmakāścaiva syurbhedā mahadādayaḥ //

Translation

Therefore, the distinct categories are said to be limited in number. Some are of the nature of effects; and those categories beginning with Mahat are also of the nature of causes.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that

• परिमिताः: limited, measured, finite

• भेदाः: distinctions, categories, principles

• स्मृताः: are remembered/declared in tradition

• कार्यात्मकाः: having the nature of an effect (products)

• तु वै: indeed, certainly

• ते: those

• कारणात्मकाः: having the nature of a cause

• च एव: and also

• स्युः: are/come to be

• भेदाः: categories/principles

• महदादयः: beginning with Mahat (the Great Principle) and the rest (e.g., ahaṅkāra, tanmātras, etc.).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu in cosmological doctrine, consistent with the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Mahat

Tags

• Sankhya
• Tattvas
• Creation
• CauseAndEffect
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

It frames creation in terms of limited, countable principles (tattvas) where some are effects and some—like Mahat—function as causes, implying a structured causal chain that can also reverse during dissolution.

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

By distinguishing causes from effects, it supports a dharmic ethic of discernment: rulers and householders should identify root causes (kāraṇa) behind social disorder or personal suffering rather than merely reacting to outcomes (kārya).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is conceptual—ritual and temple works are ‘effects’ (kārya) grounded in prior ‘causes’ (kāraṇa) such as intention, prescription (vidhi), and foundational principles.