Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

पद्मस्यान्तरतो यत्तद् एकार्णवगता मही प्रोक्ताथ दिक्षु सर्वासु चत्वारः सलिलाकराः //

Transliteration

padmasyāntarato yattad ekārṇavagatā mahī proktātha dikṣu sarvāsu catvāraḥ salilākarāḥ //

Translation

That which lies within the interior of the lotus is declared to be the Earth, immersed in the single cosmic ocean; and in all the directions there are said to be four great reservoirs of waters.

Word by Word

• पद्मस्य (padmasya): of the lotus

• अन्तरतः (antarataḥ): within, in the interior

• यत् तत् (yat tat): that which

• एकार्णव-गता (ekārṇava-gatā): gone into/immersed in the one ocean (primeval ocean)

• मही (mahī): the Earth

• प्रोक्ता (proktā): declared, taught

• अथ (atha): then/and further

• दिक्षु (dikṣu): in the directions/quarters

• सर्वासु (sarvāsu): in all

• चत्वारः (catvāraḥ): four

• सलिल-आकराः (salila-ākarāḥ): water-receptacles, basins/reservoirs (oceans/seas).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this cosmographic discourse in the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Padma (cosmic lotus)
• Mahī (Earth)
• Ekārṇava (primeval single ocean)
• Dik (four quarters)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Creation
• Ekarnava
• Bhu-mandala
• Puranic geography

FAQs

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

It preserves the Pralaya-era cosmological idea of the ekārṇava—the single primeval ocean—within which the Earth is described as situated, before the world is differentiated into directional water-basins.

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

Indirectly: by grounding dharma in a stable cosmic order—quarters, waters, and the world’s structure—this cosmography supports later prescriptions where kings and householders align rituals, directions, and governance with the ordered universe.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The mention of directions (dikṣu) and ordered water-reservoirs supports the ritual/Vāstu emphasis on orientation—mapping sacred space by quarters and associating directional layouts (including water placement) with cosmic structure.