Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Origins of Gods and Beings: Daksha’s Progeny

Devanagari script

प्रजाः सृजेति व्यादिष्टः पूर्वं दक्षः स्वयम्भुवा यथा ससर्ज चैवादौ तथैव शृणुत द्विजाः //

Transliteration

prajāḥ sṛjeti vyādiṣṭaḥ pūrvaṃ dakṣaḥ svayambhuvā yathā sasarja caivādau tathaiva śṛṇuta dvijāḥ //

Translation

Formerly, Dakṣa was commanded by Svayambhū (Brahmā), “Create the creatures (progeny).” Just as he created them in the beginning, so now listen to it, O twice-born sages.

Word by Word

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ): creatures, subjects, progeny

• सृज (sṛja): create, bring forth

• इति (iti): thus

• व्यादिष्टः (vyādiṣṭaḥ): commanded, enjoined

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam): formerly, earlier

• दक्षः (dakṣaḥ): Dakṣa (Prajāpati)

• स्वयम्भुवा (svayambhuvā): by Svayambhū (self-born Brahmā)

• यथा (yathā): as, in the manner that

• ससर्ज (sasarja): he created

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• आदौ (ādau): in the beginning

• तथा एव (tathaiva): just so, likewise

• शृणुत (śṛṇuta): hear, listen

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): O twice-born (Brahmins/initiates).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) addressing the assembled sages (Dvijas)

Entities Mentioned

• Dakṣa
• Svayambhū Brahmā
• Prajā (progeny/creatures)
• Dvijas (twice-born sages)

Tags

• Creation
• Prajāpati Dakṣa
• Cosmogony
• Genealogy
• Matsya Purana creation narrative

FAQs

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

It describes creation (sarga), specifically Brahmā’s injunction to Dakṣa to generate progeny; it does not discuss pralaya directly but sets up the post-creation ordering of beings.

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

By highlighting ‘prajā-sṛṣṭi’ (bringing forth and sustaining progeny), it echoes the Purāṇic ideal that householders and rulers uphold continuity—protecting and nurturing ‘prajā’ as a sacred responsibility aligned with cosmic order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu/temple or ritual procedure is stated; the verse functions as a narrative transition into genealogical-cosmic ordering, which later Purāṇic sections use as a foundation for dharma and ritual frameworks.