Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच इच्छेयं तत्त्वतो मायाम् इमां ज्ञातुं तवानघ यदेकार्णवमध्यस्थः शेषे त्वं बालरूपवान् //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iccheyaṃ tattvato māyām imāṃ jñātuṃ tavānagha yadekārṇavamadhyasthaḥ śeṣe tvaṃ bālarūpavān //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: O sinless one, I wish to know, in its true reality, this māyā of yours—by which, in the midst of the single cosmic ocean, you abide upon Śeṣa in the form of a child.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya

• उवाच: said

• इच्छेयम्: I would wish/desire

• तत्त्वतः: in truth, as it really is

• मायाम्: māyā, divine power of manifestation/illusion

• इमाम्: this

• ज्ञातुम्: to know

• तव: your

• अनघ: O blameless/sinless one

• यत्: by which/wherein (referring to the wondrous state)

• एकार्णव-मध्यस्थः: situated in the midst of the one ocean (the undivided cosmic waters)

• शेषे: upon Śeṣa (Ananta)

• त्वम्: you

• बाल-रूपवान्: having the form of a child.

Speaker

• Sage Mārkaṇḍeya

Entities Mentioned

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Māyā
• Ekārṇava (cosmic ocean)
• Śeṣa (Ananta)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Divine Māyā
• Vaishnava Theology
• Cosmic Ocean
• Iconography

FAQs

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

It points to the Pralaya setting: the universe reduced to the single cosmic ocean (ekārṇava), while the Lord remains present—resting on Śeṣa—showing that dissolution does not negate the sustaining divine reality.

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma as grounded in discerning reality (tattvataḥ): rulers and householders are urged in the Purāṇic ethos to seek true understanding beyond appearances, cultivating humility and devotion rather than pride in transient worldly order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated, but the imagery (the Lord on Śeṣa in the cosmic waters) is iconographically significant and can guide devotional visualization and temple imagery associated with Pralaya and Viṣṇu-Ananta motifs.