Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

प्रसादे लोकसृष्ट्यर्थं तपः कार्यं ममान्तिके प्रजापतिस्त्वं भविता दशानामङ्गजो ऽप्यलम् //

Transliteration

prasāde lokasṛṣṭyarthaṃ tapaḥ kāryaṃ mamāntike prajāpatistvaṃ bhavitā daśānāmaṅgajo 'pyalam //

Translation

By my grace, for the sake of bringing about the creation of the worlds, you must perform austerity (tapas) in my presence; you shall become a Prajāpati—indeed a progenitor among the ten Prajāpatis—and also a mind-born son, fully empowered.

Word by Word

• prasāde: by (my) grace, through favor

• loka-sṛṣṭi-artham: for the purpose of creating the worlds/people

• tapaḥ: austerity, ascetic discipline

• kāryam: is to be done, must be performed

• mama-antike: near me, in my presence

• prajāpatiḥ: lord of creatures, progenitor

• tvam: you

• bhavitā: you will become

• daśānām: of the ten

• aṅgajaḥ: born from a limb/part

• api: also, indeed

• alam: sufficiently, fully (capable/empowered)

Speaker

• Brahmā (the Creator) addressing a being appointed for progeny/creation (a prospective Prajāpati)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Prajāpati
• Daśa-Prajāpatis (the ten progenitors)

Tags

• Creation
• Tapas
• Prajāpatis
• Cosmogony
• Puranic genealogy

FAQs

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

It emphasizes creation (sṛṣṭi), teaching that cosmic generation is initiated through divine grace and tapas, by which a being is empowered to function as a Prajāpati for producing creatures.

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

It presents tapas as disciplined effort undertaken for a larger social-cosmic purpose; similarly, kings and householders are expected to practice self-restraint and duty (dharma) to sustain order and prosperity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is that tapas performed ‘in the presence’ of the deity/creator is portrayed as a consecrating means to gain authority for world-sustaining functions.