Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

व्रतोपवासैर् विधिवच्छ्रद्धया च विमत्सरः यो ऽसाव् अतीन्द्रियः शान्तः सूक्ष्मो ऽव्यक्तः सनातनः वासुदेवो जगन्मूर्तिस् तस्य सम्भूतयो ह्य् अमी //

Transliteration

vratopavāsair vidhivacchraddhayā ca vimatsaraḥ yo 'sāv atīndriyaḥ śāntaḥ sūkṣmo 'vyaktaḥ sanātanaḥ vāsudevo jaganmūrtis tasya sambhūtayo hy amī //

Translation

By vows and fasting duly performed, and with faith—free from envy—one should worship Vasudeva, who is beyond the senses, peaceful, subtle, unmanifest, and eternal. He is the embodied form of the universe; indeed, all these beings are His manifestations.

Word by Word

• vrata-upavāsaiḥ: by vows and fasts

• vidhivat: according to prescribed rule

• śraddhayā: with faith

• ca: and

• vimatsaraḥ: free from envy/jealousy

• yaḥ: who

• asau: that (Supreme)

• atīndriyaḥ: beyond the senses

• śāntaḥ: tranquil/peaceful

• sūkṣmaḥ: subtle

• avyaktaḥ: unmanifest

• sanātanaḥ: eternal

• vāsudevaḥ: Vasudeva (Vishnu as the Supreme)

• jagan-mūrtiḥ: whose form is the universe / the universe-embodied

• tasya: of Him

• sambhūtayaḥ: manifestations/emanations/creations

• hi: indeed

• amī: these (beings/worlds).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Vasudeva

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Upavasa
• Bhakti
• Vishnu-tattva

FAQs

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

It presents Vasudeva as jaganmūrti—the universe itself—and states that all beings are His manifestations, implying that creation (and by extension dissolution) are modes of the same Supreme reality.

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

It recommends disciplined, rule-based observances (vrata) and fasting (upavāsa) done with śraddhā and without envy—ethical inner qualifications expected of rulers and householders who seek merit and spiritual steadiness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes vidhivat performance—doing observances according to proper procedure—supporting the Matsya Purana’s broader insistence on correct ritual method even when the verse is primarily theological.