Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Emergence of Brahmā from the Golden Lotus and the Lotus-Form Earth

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच अथ योगवतां श्रेष्ठम् असृजद्भूरितेजसम् स्रष्टारं सर्वलोकानां ब्रह्माणं सर्वतोमुखम् //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca atha yogavatāṃ śreṣṭham asṛjadbhūritejasam sraṣṭāraṃ sarvalokānāṃ brahmāṇaṃ sarvatomukham //

Translation

Matsya said: Then He brought forth Brahmā—foremost among yogins, radiant with immense splendor—the creator of all the worlds, the all-faced (all-directional) Lord.

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच: Matsya said

• अथ: then

• योगवताम्: among yogins/those possessing yoga

• श्रेष्ठम्: the श्रेष्ठ/foremost

• असृजत्: created/brought forth

• भूरितेजसम्: endowed with abundant splendor

• स्रष्टारम्: creator

• सर्वलोकानाम्: of all worlds

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā

• सर्वतोमुखम्: having faces in all directions/all-faced

Speaker

• Lord Matsya

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Brahma

Tags

• Creation
• Sarga
• Cosmology
• Brahma
• Yoga

FAQs

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

It highlights the post-(or mid-)cosmic transition into creation: the divine principle brings forth Brahmā as the appointed creator, indicating the shift from dissolution/latency to ordered manifestation.

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

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in cosmic order: just as Brahmā is installed as “creator” to structure the worlds, kings and householders are to uphold structure—law, ritual, and social stability—as reflections of that created order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The epithet “sarvatomukha” (all-faced) resonates with ritual and iconographic ideas of all-directional presence; it supports later Vastu and temple concepts where deities/guardians are oriented to the directions and the cosmos is mapped onto sacred space.