Shloka 49

Matsya Purana — Inquiry into Yayāti’s Story and the Kacha–Devayānī Episode

Devanagari script

स तेनापृष्टो विद्यया चोपहूतः शनैर्वाचं जठरे व्याजहार तमब्रवीत्केन चेहोपनीतो ममोदरे तिष्ठसि ब्रूहि वत्स //

Transliteration

sa tenāpṛṣṭo vidyayā copahūtaḥ śanairvācaṃ jaṭhare vyājahāra tamabravītkena cehopanīto mamodare tiṣṭhasi brūhi vatsa //

Translation

Questioned by him and, as if summoned by Manu’s sacred knowledge, it slowly uttered speech from within its belly. It said to him: “By whom have you been brought here? You dwell in my stomach—tell me, dear one.”

Word by Word

• स (sa): he/it (the fish)

• तेन (tena): by him (Manu)

• अपृष्टः (apṛṣṭaḥ): questioned/asked

• विद्यया (vidyayā): by sacred knowledge/ritual understanding

• च (ca): and

• उपहूतः (opahūtaḥ): invoked/summoned

• शनैः (śanaiḥ): slowly, gently

• वाचम् (vācam): speech

• जठरे (jaṭhare): in the belly

• व्याजहार (vyājahāra): uttered/spoke forth

• तम् (tam): to him

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): said

• केन (kena): by whom

• च (ca): and

• इह (iha): here

• उपनीतः (upanītaḥ): brought/led

• मम (mama): my

• उदरे (udare): in the stomach/belly

• तिष्ठसि (tiṣṭhasi): you remain/dwell

• ब्रूहि (brūhi): tell (me)

• वत्स (vatsa): dear one/child

Speaker

• The fish (Matsya, the divine incarnation of Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya (the fish, Vishnu’s avatara)
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya Avatara
• Manu
• Divine dialogue
• Miraculous speech

FAQs

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

It sets up the revelatory moment in the Pralaya narrative: the seemingly ordinary fish manifests divine agency by speaking, signaling that the coming deluge episode is guided by a higher power rather than mere chance.

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

Manu’s inquiry and the fish’s response highlight a dharmic posture: attentiveness, discernment, and respectful questioning when encountering the extraordinary—traits expected of a righteous ruler and disciplined householder.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-building rule appears in this verse; the ritual undertone lies in “vidyā” as sacred competence that ‘invokes’ revelation—an idea later echoed in Purāṇic ritual procedures where knowledge authorizes proper action.