Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच कर्मयोगं च वक्ष्यामि यथा विष्णुविभाषितम् ज्ञानयोगसहस्राद्धि कर्मयोगः प्रशस्यते //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca karmayogaṃ ca vakṣyāmi yathā viṣṇuvibhāṣitam jñānayogasahasrāddhi karmayogaḥ praśasyate //

Translation

Sūta said: “I shall also expound Karma-yoga, just as Viṣṇu explained it; for Karma-yoga is praised as superior even to a thousand discourses on Jñāna-yoga.”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• karma-yogam: the yoga of action (disciplined, duty-bound action)

• ca: also

• vakṣyāmi: I shall declare/teach

• yathā: just as/in the manner that

• viṣṇu-vibhāṣitam: spoken/explained by Viṣṇu

• jñāna-yoga-sahasrāt: than a thousand (teachings/instances) of jñāna-yoga

• hi: indeed/for

• karma-yogaḥ: karma-yoga

• praśasyate: is praised/commended

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Gosvāmin)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Viṣṇu

Tags

• Karma-yoga
• Dharma
• Purāṇic ethics
• Spiritual practice
• Matsya Purana teachings

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it shifts the focus to spiritual discipline, asserting that dutiful, consecrated action (karma-yoga) is highly valued in the Purāṇic path.

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

It supports the householder/kingly ideal that righteous duties—governance, charity, protection, ritual obligations—when performed as karma-yoga (without selfish attachment and in alignment with dharma) are a powerful means of spiritual progress.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific vastu or iconographic rule is stated here; the ritual implication is general—acts such as worship, gifts, and prescribed rites become spiritually fruitful when performed in the spirit of karma-yoga.