Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

चतुष्पदा द्विपदाः पक्षिणश्च तथाभूता गर्भभूता भवन्ति आख्यातमेतन्निखिलं हि सर्वं भूयस्तु किं पृच्छसि राजसिंह //

Transliteration

catuṣpadā dvipadāḥ pakṣiṇaśca tathābhūtā garbhabhūtā bhavanti ākhyātametannikhilaṃ hi sarvaṃ bhūyastu kiṃ pṛcchasi rājasiṃha //

Translation

Thus, the four-footed creatures, the two-footed beings, and the birds likewise come into being as womb-born. I have now explained this entire matter in full—what more do you wish to ask, O lion among kings?

Word by Word

चतुष्पदाःfour-footed creatures

द्विपदाःtwo-footed beings (humans and other bipeds)

पक्षिणःbirds

चand

तथाlikewise/so

अभूताःthus constituted/so described

गर्भभूताःwomb-born, produced through gestation

भवन्तिbecome/come into existence

आख्यातम्explained, declared

एतत्this

निखिलम्entire, complete

हिindeed

सर्वम्all

भूयःfurther, again

तुbut/then

किम्what

पृच्छसिdo you ask

राजसिंहO lion among kings (epithet for the king).

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (the king)

Entities Mentioned

Lord MatsyaVaivasvata Manu

FAQs

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

It focuses on creation/classification: it states that quadrupeds, bipeds, and birds are generated as womb-born beings, summarizing a prior explanation of how living species arise.

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

By addressing Manu as “lion among kings,” the text frames cosmological knowledge as part of royal instruction—encouraging a ruler/householder to govern and live with awareness of the order of creation and the diversity of beings under their protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is primarily a doctrinal summary about the classification of living beings (yoni/garbha).