Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच महाप्रलयकालान्त एतदासीत्तमोमयम् प्रसुप्तमिव चातर्क्यम् अप्रज्ञातमलक्षणम् //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca mahāpralayakālānta etadāsīttamomayam prasuptamiva cātarkyam aprajñātamalakṣaṇam //

Translation

Matsya said: At the close of the time of the Great Dissolution, this (universe) existed as darkness itself—like something asleep, beyond reasoning, unknowable, and without any distinguishing marks.

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच (matsya uvāca): Matsya said

• महाप्रलय-काल-अन्ते (mahāpralaya-kāla-ante): at the end of the time of the great dissolution

• एतत् (etat): this (cosmos/that state)

• आसीत् (āsīt): was/existed

• तमोमयम् (tamomayam): consisting of darkness, made of tamas

• प्रसुप्तम् इव (prasuptam iva): as if asleep

• च (ca): and

• अतर्क्यम् (atarkyam): beyond reasoning, not graspable by logic

• अप्रज्ञातम् (aprajñātam): unknown, unrecognized

• अलक्षणम् (alakṣaṇam): without characteristics/signs, featureless

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Matsya Avatara of Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Mahapralaya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmology
• Tamas
• Creation-Prelude
• Matsya-Avatara

FAQs

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

It describes Mahāpralaya as a condition where the universe becomes tamas-dominant—featureless, unknowable, and like a cosmic sleep—indicating the collapse of all differentiating forms prior to re-creation.

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

Indirectly, it frames worldly order (dharma, governance, household life) as possible only when creation is manifest and distinguishable; it encourages humility and detachment by reminding rulers and householders that all structures dissolve in time.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated explicitly; the verse instead provides the cosmological premise that ritual order and vastu/temple forms require a manifest world with lakṣaṇa (defining features), which is absent during Mahāpralaya.