Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

ततः स मनुना क्षिप्तो गङ्गायामप्यवर्धत यदा तदा समुद्रे तं प्राक्षिपन्मेदिनीपतिः //

Transliteration

tataḥ sa manunā kṣipto gaṅgāyāmapyavardhata yadā tadā samudre taṃ prākṣipanmedinīpatiḥ //

Translation

Then, when Manu cast it into the Gaṅgā, it continued to grow there as well; and so, time after time, the lord of the earth (Manu) threw it into the ocean.

Word by Word

• ततः (tataḥ): then, thereafter

• स (sa): he/it (that fish)

• मनुना (manunā): by Manu

• क्षिप्तः (kṣiptaḥ): thrown, cast

• गङ्गायाम् (gaṅgāyām): in the river Gaṅgā

• अपि (api): also, even

• अवर्धत (avardhata): grew, increased

• यदा तदा (yadā tadā): whenever, again and again/from time to time

• समुद्रे (samudre): in the ocean/sea

• तम् (tam): it

• प्राक्षिपन् (prākṣipan): threw, cast (repeatedly)

• मेदिनीपतिः (medinīpatiḥ): lord of the earth (king

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the Matsya episode (contextually tied to Lord Matsya and Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Gaṅgā
• Samudra (Ocean)
• Matsya (the fish, implied)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-avatara
• Manu
• Gaṅgā
• Ocean

FAQs

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

It foreshadows the pralaya narrative by emphasizing the miraculous, unstoppable growth of Matsya, prompting Manu to move it from river to ocean—an omen of a cosmic-scale event.

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

Manu is called “lord of the earth,” portraying the ideal ruler/householder as attentive and responsible: when a situation outgrows a smaller setting, he acts pragmatically for safety and order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; indirectly, it reflects the principle of choosing an appropriate “container/space” for what is being protected—moving from a small water-body to a larger one as necessity demands.