Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

विज्ञेयः श्रवणाच्छ्रौतः स्मरणात्स्मार्त उच्यते इज्यावेदात्मकः श्रौतः स्मार्तो वर्णाश्रमात्मकः प्रत्यङ्गानि प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मस्येह तु लक्षणम् //

Transliteration

vijñeyaḥ śravaṇācchrautaḥ smaraṇātsmārta ucyate ijyāvedātmakaḥ śrautaḥ smārto varṇāśramātmakaḥ pratyaṅgāni pravakṣyāmi dharmasyeha tu lakṣaṇam //

Translation

That which is known through hearing (śruti) is to be understood as Śrauta; that which is known through remembrance (smṛti) is called Smārta. The Śrauta is of the nature of Vedic sacrifice and Vedic ordinance, while the Smārta is of the nature of the disciplines of varṇa and āśrama. Now I shall declare the subsidiary limbs—indeed the defining marks—of dharma here.

Word by Word

• vijñeyaḥ: is to be understood/recognized

• śravaṇāt: from hearing (i.e., from Śruti)

• śrautaḥ: Śrauta (Veda-based, Śruti-derived)

• smaraṇāt: from remembrance (i.e., from Smṛti)

• smārtaḥ: Smārta (Smṛti-derived)

• ucyate: is called

• ijyā: sacrifice/ritual worship (yajña)

• veda-ātmakaḥ: having the Veda as its essence/of the nature of the Veda

• śrautaḥ: the Śrauta (path/rite)

• smārtaḥ: the Smārta (path/rite)

• varṇa-āśrama-ātmakaḥ: having varṇa and āśrama (social and life-stage duties) as its essence

• pratyaṅgāni: subsidiary parts/limbs (ancillary components)

• pravakṣyāmi: I will explain

• dharmasya: of dharma

• iha: here/in this context

• tu: indeed/now

• lakṣaṇam: defining characteristic/mark.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Śruti
• Smṛti
• Veda
• Yajña
• Varṇa
• Āśrama
• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Śrauta
• Smārta
• Varṇāśrama
• Vedic Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it classifies dharma into Śrauta (Śruti-based, Vedic ritual) and Smārta (Smṛti-based, varṇāśrama conduct), preparing for a definition of dharma’s characteristics.

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

It frames duty in two complementary domains: Śrauta obligations (Vedic sacrifices and rites) and Smārta obligations (proper conduct according to one’s varṇa and āśrama). A king upholds both by patronizing Vedic rites and enforcing social-ethical order; a householder practices daily/seasonal rites and varṇāśrama-based discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is explicit: Śrauta dharma is defined by ijyā (yajña) and Vedic injunctions. No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse, but it establishes the Śrauta foundation that later ritual/temple procedures often presuppose.