Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Description of Pralaya: Drying

Devanagari script

स्पर्शः प्राणश्च चेष्टा च पवने संश्रिता गुणाः शब्दः श्रोत्रं च खान्येव गगने संश्रिता गुणाः //

Transliteration

sparśaḥ prāṇaśca ceṣṭā ca pavane saṃśritā guṇāḥ śabdaḥ śrotraṃ ca khānyeva gagane saṃśritā guṇāḥ //

Translation

Touch, the vital breath, and bodily movement are qualities that rest in the wind (vāyu). Sound, the sense of hearing, and the bodily cavities (orifices) are qualities that rest in space/ether (ākāśa).

Word by Word

• स्पर्शः (sparśaḥ): touch

• प्राणः (prāṇaḥ): vital breath, life-wind

• चेष्टा (ceṣṭā): movement, activity

• पवने (pavane): in wind (vāyu)

• संश्रिता (saṃśritā): dependent on, resting in

• गुणाः (guṇāḥ): qualities, attributes

• शब्दः (śabdaḥ): sound

• श्रोत्रम् (śrotram): the ear, faculty of hearing

• खानि (khāni): apertures, cavities/orifices (e.g., bodily openings)

• एव (eva): indeed

• गगने (gagane): in the sky/space, ether (ākāśa)

• संश्रिता गुणाः (saṃśritā guṇāḥ): qualities that are grounded in/located in.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vayu (Pavana)
• Akasha (Gagana)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Mahabhutas
• Sankhya-like Tattvas
• Pralaya doctrine
• Elemental qualities

FAQs

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

It maps which sensory qualities belong to subtle elements (ākāśa and vāyu), a framework used in Purāṇic creation and dissolution accounts where elements reabsorb their qualities in reverse order during pralaya.

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

By grounding life-breath and activity in vāyu and hearing in ākāśa, it supports a dharmic lifestyle emphasizing breath-control, disciplined action, and careful listening to śāstra and counsel—core virtues for rulers and householders in the Matsya Purana’s ethical teaching.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Element–quality correspondences can inform Vastu and ritual symbolism: ākāśa relates to sound and openings (space, apertures), while vāyu relates to movement and breath—useful when interpreting ventilation, spatial voids, and acoustic/ritual sound design in Puranic temple architecture rules.