Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच एवमेकार्णवे तस्मिन् मत्स्यरूपी जनार्दनः विस्तारमादिसर्गस्य प्रतिसर्गस्य चाखिलम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca evamekārṇave tasmin matsyarūpī janārdanaḥ vistāramādisargasya pratisargasya cākhilam //

Translation

Sūta said: Thus, in that single, all-engulfing ocean, Janārdana in the form of a Fish expounded in full detail the primordial creation and also the complete process of re-creation.

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• एवम्: thus

• एकार्णवे: in the one ocean (the single cosmic flood)

• तस्मिन्: in that (state/place)

• मत्स्यरूपी: assuming the form of a fish

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu, the dispeller of distress)

• विस्तारम्: in detail, expansively

• आदिसर्गस्य: of the first/primordial creation

• प्रतिसर्गस्य: of re-creation/secondary creation after dissolution

• च: and

• अखिलम्: entirely, in full.

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta Uvāca)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Janardana
• Matsya (Fish form of Vishnu)
• Adi-sarga
• Prati-sarga
• Ekarṇava (cosmic ocean)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Sarga
• Pratisarga
• Matsya Avatara
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

It frames the setting as the ekārṇava (single cosmic ocean) associated with pralaya and states that Matsya (Vishnu) teaches both ādi-sarga (primordial creation) and prati-sarga (re-creation after dissolution).

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

Indirectly, it establishes Vishnu as the authoritative teacher of cosmic order; in the Matsya Purana, dharma for kings and householders is grounded in aligning human conduct with the larger rhythms of creation, dissolution, and restoration.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct vastu or ritual rule is stated in this verse; it functions as a cosmological lead-in, which later supports temple/ritual prescriptions by rooting them in the divine structure of sarga and pratisarga.