Shloka 77
Matsya Purana — Manvantaras
पुरे शयनात्पुरुषो ज्ञानात्क्षेत्रज्ञ उच्यते यस्माद्धर्मात्प्रसूते हि तस्माद्वै धार्मिकस्तु सः //
pure śayanātpuruṣo jñānātkṣetrajña ucyate yasmāddharmātprasūte hi tasmādvai dhārmikastu saḥ //
Because he abides (as if resting) within the city/body, and because he is of the nature of knowing, the Person (puruṣa) is called the Kṣetrajña, the “Knower of the Field”. And since he is indeed born from Dharma, therefore he is truly called dhārmika—righteous.
FAQs
It does not describe Pralaya directly; it defines the indwelling knower (kṣetrajña) and links righteousness (dhārmika) to Dharma, implying a stable spiritual principle that persists beyond external change.
By grounding personhood in Dharma, it implies that a king or householder should govern and live as a dhārmika—aligning decisions, protection, and conduct with righteousness rather than mere power or pleasure.
The verse uses ‘city/dwelling’ imagery (pura) to frame the self as the indweller; in Vastu-oriented readings, it supports the idea that a settlement or house should be established with Dharma and right order, as habitation is not merely physical but ethically and spiritually grounded.