Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — Secondary Creation: Appointment of Cosmic Regents and Consecration of Directi...

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर् एभिः पृथुनामधेयो नृपो ऽभिषिक्तः प्रथमं पृथिव्याम् गते ऽन्तरे चाक्षुषनामधेये वैवस्वताख्ये च पुनः प्रवृत्ते प्रजापतिः सो ऽस्य चराचरस्य बभूव सूर्यान्वयवंशचिह्नः //

Transliteration

caturbhir ebhiḥ pṛthunāmadheyo nṛpo 'bhiṣiktaḥ prathamaṃ pṛthivyām gate 'ntare cākṣuṣanāmadheye vaivasvatākhye ca punaḥ pravṛtte prajāpatiḥ so 'sya carācarasya babhūva sūryānvayavaṃśacihnaḥ //

Translation

Thus, by these four rites, King Pṛthu—bearing that very name—was first consecrated upon the earth. When the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara had passed and the Vaivasvata Manvantara began again, he became a Prajāpati for this world of moving and unmoving beings, a marked emblem of the Solar (Sūrya) lineage.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः (caturbhiḥ): with four

• एभिः (ebhiḥ): by these

• पृथुनामधेयः (pṛthu-nāmadheyaḥ): named Pṛthu, bearing the name Pṛthu

• नृपः (nṛpaḥ): king

• अभिषिक्तः (abhiṣiktaḥ): consecrated/anointed

• प्रथमम् (prathamam): first/for the first time

• पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām): on the earth

• गते (gate): having gone/passed

• अन्तरे (antare): in the interval/Manvantara period

• चाक्षुषनामधेये (cākṣuṣa-nāmadheye): in the one called Cākṣuṣa (Manvantara)

• वैवस्वताख्ये (vaivasvata-ākhye): in that named Vaivasvata

• च (ca): and

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• प्रवृत्ते (pravṛtte): having commenced/come into operation

• प्रजापतिः (prajāpatiḥ): progenitor, lord of creatures

• सः (saḥ): he

• अस्य (asya): of this

• चराचरस्य (carācarasya): of the moving and unmoving beings

• बभूव (babhūva): became

• सूर्यान्वयवंशचिह्नः (sūryānvaya-vaṃśa-cihnaḥ): a distinguishing mark/emblem of the Solar lineage.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting dynastic history (genealogical narration within Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Pṛthu
• Cākṣuṣa Manu
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Prajāpati
• Sūryavaṃśa (Solar dynasty)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Manvantaras
• Genealogy
• Kingship
• Prajāpati

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it frames cosmic time through Manvantaras (Cākṣuṣa and Vaivasvata), showing how rulership and progenitorship are situated within recurring cycles of world-governance.

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

By emphasizing Pṛthu’s formal consecration (abhiṣeka) and his becoming a Prajāpati, the verse presents kingship as a dharmic office: the king is validated by rites and is responsible for the welfare and ordering of all beings (cara and acara).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The explicit ritual element is abhiṣeka (royal consecration) performed through “four” prescribed means/rites, underscoring that authority in the Matsya Purāṇa is established through correct ceremonial procedure rather than mere power.