HomeMatsya PuranaAdh. 2Shloka 34
Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution

नद्यो ऽण्डनाम्नः संभूताः पितरो मनवस् तथा सप्त ये ऽमी समुद्राश् च ते ऽपि चान्तर्जलोद्भवाः लवणेक्षुसुराद्याश् च नानारत्नसमन्विताः //

nadyo 'ṇḍanāmnaḥ saṃbhūtāḥ pitaro manavas tathā sapta ye 'mī samudrāś ca te 'pi cāntarjalodbhavāḥ lavaṇekṣusurādyāś ca nānāratnasamanvitāḥ //

From the cosmic Egg (aṇḍa) arose the rivers; likewise the Pitṛs (ancestral fathers) and the Manus. The seven oceans too were born from the waters within, and these—of salt, sugarcane-juice, wine (surā) and the rest—are endowed with manifold kinds of gems.

नद्यःrivers
नद्यः:
अण्डनाम्नःfrom the one called the (cosmic) Egg (aṇḍa)
अण्डनाम्नः:
संभूताःarose, were produced
संभूताः:
पितरःthe Pitṛs/ancestral fathers
पितरः:
मनवःthe Manus
मनवः:
तथाalso
तथा:
सप्तseven
सप्त:
ये अमीthese (well-known)
ये अमी:
समुद्राःoceans
समुद्राः:
and
:
ते अपिthey also
ते अपि:
च अन्तर्जल-उद्भवाःborn from the inner waters
च अन्तर्जल-उद्भवाः:
लवणsalt (ocean)
लवण:
इक्षुsugarcane(-juice) (ocean)
इक्षु:
सुराwine/fermented liquor (ocean)
सुरा:
आद्याःand others
आद्याः:
and
:
नानाvarious, manifold
नाना:
रत्नgems, jewels
रत्न:
समन्विताःendowed with, furnished with.
समन्विताः:
Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for early Matsya Purana cosmology narration)
Aṇḍa (Cosmic Egg)PitṛsManusSeven Oceans (Sapta-samudra)
CosmologyCreationSapta-samudraPuranic GeographyRatnas (Gems)

FAQs

It frames a creation model where rivers, Manus, Pitṛs, and even the seven oceans arise from primordial waters associated with the cosmic Egg—imagery that also supports pralaya-to-creation cycles in Puranic cosmology.

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in cosmic order: kings and householders uphold social and ritual continuity (Pitṛs and Manu-lineages) that are portrayed here as foundational elements of the created world.

Ritually, it highlights the sacred status of waters (rivers and oceans) and the Pitṛs—supporting water-related rites (tīrtha, snāna) and ancestral offerings (śrāddha), which often accompany temple consecrations and Vastu-aligned ceremonies.