Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

दृष्टानुभूतमर्थं च यः पृष्टो न विगूहते यथाभूतप्रवादस्तु इत्येतत्सत्यलक्षणम् //

Transliteration

dṛṣṭānubhūtamarthaṃ ca yaḥ pṛṣṭo na vigūhate yathābhūtapravādastu ityetatsatyalakṣaṇam //

Translation

When questioned, one who does not conceal a matter that has been seen or personally experienced—who states things as they truly are—this is the defining mark of truthfulness.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट (dṛṣṭa): seen

• अनुभूत (anubhūta): directly experienced

• अर्थम् (artham): the matter/meaning/fact

• च (ca): and

• यः (yaḥ): who

• पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ): when asked/questioned

• न (na): does not

• विगूहते (vigūhate): conceal/withhold

• यथाभूत (yathābhūta): as it actually is

• प्रवादः (pravādaḥ): statement/utterance/report

• तु (tu): indeed

• इति (iti): thus

• एतत् (etat): this

• सत्यलक्षणम् (satya-lakṣaṇam): the characteristic/definition of truth.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely frame of discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Rajadharma
• Speech

FAQs

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

It does not address pralaya directly; it defines satya (truth) as reporting what one has truly seen or experienced without concealment.

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

It frames truthful testimony as a dharmic duty: a king (in judgment) and a householder (in daily dealings) should not hide known facts when asked, and should speak in accordance with reality (yathābhūta).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is an ethical rule about truthful speech, relevant indirectly to ritual integrity (truthful vows and declarations).