Shloka 42

Matsya Purana — Nārāyaṇa as Haṃsa in the Cosmic Ocean: Vedic Yajña-Puruṣa and Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vi...

Devanagari script

*श्रीभगवान् उवाच अहं ते जनको वत्स हृषीकेशः पिता गुरुः आयुष्प्रदाता पौराणः किं मां त्वं नोपसर्पसि //

Transliteration

*śrībhagavān uvāca ahaṃ te janako vatsa hṛṣīkeśaḥ pitā guruḥ āyuṣpradātā paurāṇaḥ kiṃ māṃ tvaṃ nopasarpasi //

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: “O dear child, I am your begetter—Hṛṣīkeśa—your father and your teacher, the giver of life and the Ancient One. Why do you not come near Me?”

Word by Word

• śrī-bhagavān uvāca: the Blessed Lord said

• aham: I

• te: your/to you

• janakaḥ: begetter, progenitor

• vatsa: dear child

• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses, a name of Viṣṇu)

• pitā: father

• guruḥ: teacher, spiritual preceptor

• āyuṣ-pradātā: giver of lifespan/life

• paurāṇaḥ: the Ancient One, primeval (also: the one known in Purāṇic tradition)

• kim: why

• mām: to me/me

• tvam: you

• na upasarpasi: do not approach/come near

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Śrī Bhagavān / Viṣṇu as Hṛṣīkeśa)

Entities Mentioned

• Hṛṣīkeśa
• Śrī Bhagavān

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-Avatara
• Manu
• Divine instruction
• Bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames the Pralaya episode as a direct divine intervention: the Lord identifies Himself as the primeval source and life-giver, establishing His authority to guide the listener through cosmic crisis.

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

It stresses humility and seeking counsel: even an eminent person should ‘approach’ the rightful guru (here, the Lord Himself), prioritizing dharmic guidance and surrender over self-reliance in times of uncertainty.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its practical takeaway is devotional protocol—upasarpana (approaching the teacher/deity) as the prerequisite for receiving instruction.