Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Description of Pralaya: Drying

Devanagari script

नभः क्षितिं पवनम् अपः प्रकाशकं प्रजापतिं भुवनधरं सुरेश्वरम् पितामहं श्रुतिनिलयं महामुनिं प्रशाम्य भूयः शयनं ह्यरोचयत् //

Transliteration

nabhaḥ kṣitiṃ pavanam apaḥ prakāśakaṃ prajāpatiṃ bhuvanadharaṃ sureśvaram pitāmahaṃ śrutinilayaṃ mahāmuniṃ praśāmya bhūyaḥ śayanaṃ hyarocayat //

Translation

Having pacified (withdrawn into himself) the sky, the earth, the wind, the waters, the luminous principle, Prajāpati, the supporter of the worlds, the Lord of the gods, Pitāmaha (Brahmā), the abode of the Vedas, and the great sage—he then chose once again to enter his repose (yogic sleep).

Word by Word

• nabhaḥ: the sky/ether

• kṣitim: the earth

• pavanam: wind/air

• apaḥ: the waters

• prakāśakam: the illuminator/light (luminous principle)

• prajāpatiṃ: Prajāpati (lord of creatures, creative principle)

• bhuvanadharam: supporter of the worlds

• sureśvaram: lord of the gods

• pitāmaham: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

• śrutinilayam: abode of śruti (the Vedas)

• mahāmunim: great sage

• praśāmya: having calmed/appeased/absorbed

• bhūyaḥ: again

• śayanam: sleep, repose

• hi: indeed

• arocayat: chose/approved/desired.

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice summarizing the cosmic withdrawal after instruction)

Entities Mentioned

• Prajāpati
• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Śruti (Vedas)
• Devas (as Sureśvara’s domain)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic dissolution
• Tattvas
• Yoga-nidrā
• Puranic cosmology

FAQs

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

It depicts pralaya as a “withdrawal” (laya): the elements (sky, earth, wind, waters), light, and even cosmic offices like Prajāpati and Brahmā are pacified/absorbed, after which the Supreme returns to yogic repose.

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

Indirectly, it frames all authority and worldly structures as temporary; a king or householder should rule and live with dharma and detachment, remembering that cosmic powers and institutions also dissolve and return to their source.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of cosmic principles (elements, light, Vedic śruti) that rituals symbolically invoke and ultimately “resolve” in acts of śānti (pacification).