Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — The Episode of Madhu and Kaiṭabha: Gunas

Devanagari script

यः परो योगमतिमान् योगाख्यः सत्त्वमेव च रजसस्तमसश्चैव यः स्रष्टा विश्वसंभवः //

Transliteration

yaḥ paro yogamatimān yogākhyaḥ sattvameva ca rajasastamasaścaiva yaḥ sraṣṭā viśvasaṃbhavaḥ //

Translation

He who is Supreme—whose intelligence is Yoga itself, who is known as Yoga; who is also Sattva, and likewise Rajas and Tamas; and who, as the Creator, is the source from whom the universe arises.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: he who

• paraḥ: supreme, transcendent

• yoga-mati-mān: possessed of yogic intelligence / whose mind is Yoga

• yoga-ākhyaḥ: called ‘Yoga’, known as Yoga

• sattvam eva: indeed Sattva (purity, luminosity)

• ca: and

• rajasaḥ: Rajas (activity, passion)

• tamasaḥ ca eva: and indeed Tamas (inertia, darkness)

• yaḥ: he who

• sraṣṭā: creator

• viśva-saṃbhavaḥ: origin/source of the universe, from whom the cosmos is born

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Yoga
• Sattva
• Rajas
• Tamas
• Creator (Sraṣṭā)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Sāṅkhya
• Yoga
• Guṇas
• Creation

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as the very source of cosmic origination and as the ground of the three guṇas (sattva–rajas–tamas) through which creation (and by implication dissolution) operates.

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

By teaching that the same Supreme underlies all guṇas, it supports guṇa-aware ethics: a ruler or householder should cultivate sattva (clarity, restraint, truth) and govern rajas and tamas rather than be driven by them.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is foundational theology—ritual and temple practice are meaningful because the Supreme pervades the guṇas and is the ultimate source of the cosmos honored in worship.