Shloka 32

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि ब्रह्मणो ऽङ्गानि वै श्रुतिः मन्वन्तरस्यातीतस्य स्मृत्वा तन्मनुरब्रवीत् //

Transliteration

ṛco yajūṃṣi sāmāni brahmaṇo 'ṅgāni vai śrutiḥ manvantarasyātītasya smṛtvā tanmanurabravīt //

Translation

The Ṛk, Yajus, and Sāman—indeed the Veda (Śruti)—are the very limbs of Brahmā. Remembering the manvantara that had passed, that Manu then spoke.

Word by Word

• ṛcaḥ: the Ṛg-vedic hymns

• yajūṃṣi: the Yajur-vedic formulas

• sāmāni: the Sāma-vedic chants

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā (the cosmic creator)

• aṅgāni: limbs, constituent parts

• vai: indeed, certainly

• śrutiḥ: Śruti, the Veda (revealed scripture)

• manvantarasya: of the manvantara (epoch of a Manu)

• atītasya: that has passed, bygone

• smṛtvā: having remembered

• tat: then/thereupon

• manuḥ: Manu (Vaivasvata Manu, in the Matsya narrative)

• abravīt: spoke, said.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration introducing Manu’s speech; commonly framed within the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Śruti (Veda)
• Ṛgveda
• Yajurveda
• Sāmaveda
• Manu (Vaivasvata)

Tags

• Manvantara
• Veda
• Śruti
• Cosmology
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

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

It implies continuity of revealed knowledge across cosmic cycles: even after a manvantara has passed, Manu “remembers” the Veda (Śruti), described as Brahmā’s limbs—suggesting Vedic order persists through dissolution and renewal.

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

By grounding Manu’s speech in Śruti, the verse signals that dharma—whether royal governance or household conduct—should be derived from Vedic authority, not mere personal preference.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not naming Vāstu directly, it establishes Śruti as foundational authority; in the Matsya Purāṇa’s ritual and temple-building rules, such prescriptions are traditionally justified as flowing from Vedic revelation.