Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Prologue to the Matsya Purana and the Manu–Pralaya Rescue Narrative

Devanagari script

क्षिप्तो ऽसौ पृथुतामागात् पुनर् योजनसंमिताम् तत्राप्याह पुनर् दीनः पाहि पाहि नृपोत्तम //

Transliteration

kṣipto 'sau pṛthutāmāgāt punar yojanasaṃmitām tatrāpyāha punar dīnaḥ pāhi pāhi nṛpottama //

Translation

When it was cast into the water, it again grew to a vast size—measuring a yojana. Even there, distressed, it once more said: “Protect me, protect me, O best of kings!”

Word by Word

• क्षिप्तः (kṣiptaḥ): thrown/cast

• असौ (asau): that one (the fish)

• पृथुताम् (pṛthutām): great breadth/vastness

• आगात् (āgāt): attained/went

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• योजनसंमिताम् (yojanasaṃmitām): measured by a yojana

• तत्रापि (tatrāpi): even there

• आह (āha): said

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• दीनः (dīnaḥ): distressed, pitiable

• पाहि (pāhi): protect (imperative)

• नृपोत्तम (nṛpottama): O best of kings

Speaker

• The fish (Lord Matsya in disguised, supplicating form) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-Avatara
• Manu
• Divine-Protection
• Purana-Narrative

FAQs

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

It signals the onset of the deluge episode: the fish’s repeated, miraculous growth foreshadows a cosmic-scale event requiring divine intervention—an early marker of the Pralaya narrative framework.

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

By portraying Manu as “nṛpottama” (best of kings) being appealed to for protection, the verse reinforces the royal duty of giving refuge to the vulnerable—an ethical ideal that later expands into Manu’s role as protector of life during the coming catastrophe.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu/ritual procedure appears in this verse; its main takeaway is narrative and theological—divine testing and the king’s protective dharma—rather than temple architecture rules.