Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution

Devanagari script

आभूतसम्प्लवे तस्मिन्न् अतीते योगशायिना पृष्टेन मनुना प्रोक्तं पुराणं मत्स्यरूपिणा तदिदानीं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वमृषिसत्तमाः //

Transliteration

ābhūtasamplave tasminn atīte yogaśāyinā pṛṣṭena manunā proktaṃ purāṇaṃ matsyarūpiṇā tadidānīṃ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvamṛṣisattamāḥ //

Translation

When that great cosmic flood had passed, this Purāṇa—spoken in the form of Matsya to Manu, who had questioned while abiding in yogic repose—I shall now declare. Listen, O best of sages.

Word by Word

• ābhūta-samplave: at the (time of the) all-being flood / great deluge

• tasmin: in that

• atīte: having passed

• yogaśāyinā: by one lying in yogic repose / absorbed in yoga

• pṛṣṭena: questioned (by)

• manunā: by Manu

• proktam: spoken / taught

• purāṇam: the Purāṇa

• matsya-rūpiṇā: by the one in the form of a fish (Lord Matsya)

• tat: that

• idānīm: now

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall expound

• śṛṇudhvam: listen (all of you)

• ṛṣi-sattamāḥ: O best among sages.

Speaker

• Suta (or the primary narrator addressing the sages), referring to Lord Matsya’s teaching to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya (Fish incarnation of Vishnu)
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Rishis (Ṛṣisattamāḥ)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya Avatara
• Purana Transmission
• Manu Narrative
• Cosmic Dissolution

FAQs

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

It situates the Purāṇa’s teaching immediately after the great deluge (samplava), implying that sacred knowledge is preserved and re-taught across cycles of dissolution.

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

By highlighting Manu—the archetypal lawgiver and king—as the questioner, the verse frames the Purāṇa as guidance meant for righteous governance and ordered life after catastrophe and renewal.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or ritual rule is stated in this verse; its significance is foundational—establishing the authoritative transmission of teachings that later include ritual procedures and temple/architecture principles.