Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं प्रथमं वक्त्राद् उद्गातारं च सामगम् होतारमपि चाध्वर्युं बाहुभ्यामसृजत्प्रभुः //

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ prathamaṃ vaktrād udgātāraṃ ca sāmagam hotāramapi cādhvaryuṃ bāhubhyāmasṛjatprabhuḥ //

Translation

The Lord first brought forth the Brahman-priest from His mouth; and He created the Udgātṛ, the chanter of Sāma, as well as the Hotṛ and the Adhvaryu from His two arms.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: the Brahman (superintending priest)

• प्रथमम्: first

• वक्त्रात्: from the mouth

• उद्गातारम्: the Udgātṛ (Sāma-chanter priest)

• च: and

• सामगम्: the singer/reciter of Sāman (Sāma Veda)

• होतारम्: the Hotṛ (Ṛg-vedic invoker)

• अपि: also

• च: and

• अध्वर्युम्: the Adhvaryu (Yajur-vedic officiant)

• बाहुभ्याम्: from (His) two arms

• असृजत्: created/emitted

• प्रभुः: the Lord, the Sovereign.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration of cosmic/ritual origins)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahman (priest)
• Udgatr
• Sama Veda
• Hotr
• Adhvaryu
• Prabhu (Lord)

Tags

• Yajna
• VedicPriests
• Creation
• RitualProcedure
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

It presents a creation-order motif: the Lord manifests the key Vedic priestly functions from His body, emphasizing how yajña (sacrificial order) is established after cosmic re-origination rather than describing dissolution itself.

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

It grounds dharma in properly conducted yajña: kings and householders support and appoint the correct ṛtvij-priests (Brahman, Hotṛ, Adhvaryu, Udgātṛ) so rites are performed without error and society remains aligned with sacred order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it defines the canonical yajña-officiants and their Vedic specializations (Ṛg/Hotṛ, Yajur/Adhvaryu, Sāma/Udgātṛ, Brahman as overseer), which is foundational for planning any consecration rite tied to temple-building and Vastu-linked ceremonies.