Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

इमा विभूतयः प्रोक्ताश् चराचरसमन्विताः ब्रह्माद्याश् चतुरो मूलम् अव्यक्ताधिपतिः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

imā vibhūtayaḥ proktāś carācarasamanvitāḥ brahmādyāś caturo mūlam avyaktādhipatiḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

These manifestations (vibhūtis) have been declared as comprising all that is moving and unmoving. Beginning with Brahmā, the four are said to be the root-principles; and the Lord of the Unmanifest (Avyakta) is remembered as their presiding ruler.

Word by Word

• imāḥ: these

• vibhūtayaḥ: manifestations, powers, emanations

• proktāḥ: have been stated/declared

• cara-acara-samanvitāḥ: inclusive of the moving and the unmoving

• brahmā-ādyāḥ: beginning with Brahmā

• catvāraḥ: four

• mūlam: root, source-principle

• avyakta: the unmanifest (primordial nature)

• adhipatiḥ: lord, presiding ruler

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/considered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma
• Avyakta

Tags

• Cosmology
• Creation
• Tattva
• Sankhya
• Vibhuti

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as a set of declared “manifestations” that include all beings (moving and unmoving) and roots them in primordial principles governed by the Lord of the Unmanifest—implying that at Pralaya, manifest forms resolve back toward the Avyakta under divine lordship.

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

By distinguishing moving and unmoving beings as part of one governed order, it supports dharmic governance and household ethics: a king protects all life and resources (people, animals, forests, lands), and a householder practices restraint and stewardship, recognizing a single cosmic hierarchy behind visible diversity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated, but the doctrine of “root-principles” and the presiding Lord underpins temple/ritual theology: iconography and consecration symbolically connect manifest forms (pratimā, temple space) to the Unmanifest source and its divine ruler.