Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Dialogue of Aṣṭaka and Yayāti: Exhaustion of Merit

Devanagari script

स जायमानो ऽथ गृहीतमात्रः संज्ञामधिष्ठाय ततो मनुष्यः स श्रोत्राभ्यां वेदयतीह शब्दं स वै रूपं पश्यति चक्षुषा च //

Transliteration

sa jāyamāno 'tha gṛhītamātraḥ saṃjñāmadhiṣṭhāya tato manuṣyaḥ sa śrotrābhyāṃ vedayatīha śabdaṃ sa vai rūpaṃ paśyati cakṣuṣā ca //

Translation

Then, as soon as he is born and taken up into care, the human being becomes established in awareness; thereafter, through the two ears he cognizes sound in this world, and indeed he beholds form through the eyes.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• जायमानः (jāyamānaḥ): being born

• अथ (atha): then

• गृहीतमात्रः (gṛhīta-mātraḥ): just taken/received (into the hands

• संज्ञाम् (saṃjñām): consciousness, awareness

• अधिष्ठाय (adhiṣṭhāya): having become established in, having taken seat in

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• मनुष्यः (manuṣyaḥ): the human being

• श्रोत्राभ्याम् (śrotrābhyām): by the two ears

• वेदयति (vedayati): perceives, cognizes

• इह (iha): here, in this world

• शब्दम् (śabdam): sound

• वै (vai): indeed

• रूपम् (rūpam): form

• पश्यति (paśyati): sees

• चक्षुषा (cakṣuṣā): with the eye(s)

• च (ca): and.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing embodied cognition)

Entities Mentioned

• Manuṣya (human being)
• Saṃjñā (consciousness)
• Śrotra (ear)
• Cakṣus (eye)
• Śabda (sound)
• Rūpa (form)

Tags

• Creation
• Embodiment
• Senses
• Consciousness
• Sarga

FAQs

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

It focuses on creation at the individual level: the emergence of awareness (saṃjñā) after birth and the activation of sensory cognition (hearing sound, seeing form), rather than describing cosmic Pralaya.

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

By grounding knowledge in sense-perception, it implies ethical discipline: a householder or king should govern the senses (hearing and sight especially) so that judgment and conduct are guided by aware discernment rather than impulsive sensory attraction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-rule is stated; indirectly, it underscores why ritual uses sound (mantra heard) and form (icons/mandalas seen): human cognition engages dharma through śabda and rūpa.