Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Marks of Karma-yoga and the Five Great Daily Sacrifices

Devanagari script

*ऋषय ऊचुः इदानीं प्राह यद्विष्णुः पृष्टः परममुत्तमम् तदिदानीं समाचक्ष्व धर्माधर्मस्य विस्तरम् //

Transliteration

*ṛṣaya ūcuḥ idānīṃ prāha yadviṣṇuḥ pṛṣṭaḥ paramamuttamam tadidānīṃ samācakṣva dharmādharmasya vistaram //

Translation

The sages said: “Now tell us in full the broad extent of dharma and adharma—what Viṣṇu previously declared when he was asked that supremely excellent matter.”

Word by Word

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages

• ūcuḥ: said

• idānīm: now

• prāha: declared/told

• yat: which/that

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu

• pṛṣṭaḥ: when asked

• paramam: highest/supreme

• uttamam: most excellent

• tat: that

• idānīm: now

• samācakṣva: explain clearly, recount

• dharma-adharmasya: of dharma and adharma

• vistaram: detailed extent, full elaboration

Speaker

• The sages (Ṛṣis)

Entities Mentioned

• Viṣṇu
• Ṛṣis

Tags

• Dharma
• Adharma
• Ethics
• Purāṇic discourse
• Teachings of Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it frames a request to expound dharma and adharma, suggesting the text is shifting into an ethical-legal teaching section rather than a cosmological dissolution narrative.

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

By asking for the “full extent” of dharma and adharma, the sages set up a normative teaching that typically underpins rājadharma (kingly duty) and gṛhastha-dharma (householder conduct) in the Matsya Purāṇa—i.e., how to discern right action from prohibited conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vāstu (architecture) or pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconography) rule is stated in this verse; it functions as an introductory prompt to a broader doctrinal exposition, which may later include ritual duties as part of dharma.