Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

प्रत्यङ्गानि तु धर्मस्य चेत्येतल्लक्षणं स्मृतम् ऋषिभिर्धर्मतत्त्वज्ञैः पूर्वैः स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे //

Transliteration

pratyaṅgāni tu dharmasya cetyetallakṣaṇaṃ smṛtam ṛṣibhirdharmatattvajñaiḥ pūrvaiḥ svāyambhuve 'ntare //

Translation

“These are remembered as the defining marks—namely, the subsidiary limbs (pratyaṅgas) of dharma—taught by the ancient seers who knew the true principle of dharma, in the Svāyambhuva Manvantara.”

Word by Word

• pratyaṅgāni: subsidiary limbs, ancillary factors

• tu: indeed/and

• dharmasya: of dharma

• ca: and/also

• iti: thus

• etat: this

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic, defining mark

• smṛtam: remembered, recorded in tradition

• ṛṣibhiḥ: by sages/seers

• dharma-tattva-jñaiḥ: by those who know the reality/principle of dharma

• pūrvaiḥ: by the ancients

• svāyambhuve: in (the period of) Svāyambhuva Manu

• antare: within, during (the Manvantara)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛṣis
• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Svāyambhuva Manvantara
• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Dharma-Lakshana
• Manvantara
• Smriti
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it anchors dharma-teachings in cosmic time by citing the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, implying that dharma is an inherited, trans-Manvantara tradition preserved by seers.

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

It frames dharma as having identifiable “subsidiary limbs” and as being grounded in authoritative ṛṣi-tradition; for kings and householders, this means governance and conduct should follow established dharma-criteria rather than personal preference.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or iconography rule is stated here; the verse functions as a textual marker introducing/validating dharma-definitions, which can later support ritual and rule-based disciplines by appealing to ancient ṛṣi authority.