Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — The Gods Seek Śiva’s Refuge: The Cosmic Chariot Prepared for the Burning of T...

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदः सामवेदश्च यजुर्वेदस्तथा परः वेदाश् चत्वार एवैते चत्वारस्तुरगाभवन् //

Transliteration

ṛgvedaḥ sāmavedaśca yajurvedastathā paraḥ vedāś catvāra evaite catvārasturagābhavan //

Translation

The Ṛgveda, the Sāmaveda, likewise the Yajurveda, and the other (Atharvaveda)—these are indeed the four Vedas; and these four became (symbolically) four horses.

Word by Word

• ṛgvedaḥ: the Ṛgveda

• sāmavedaḥ: the Sāmaveda

• ca: and

• yajurvedaḥ: the Yajurveda

• tathā: likewise

• paraḥ: the other/further one (i.e., Atharvaveda)

• vedāḥ: the Vedas

• catvāraḥ: four

• eva: indeed

• ete: these

• catvāraḥ: four

• turagāḥ: horses/steeds

• abhavan: became/were manifested as

Speaker

• Sūta (continuing Purāṇic narration; framed within the Matsya Purana’s instructional discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛgveda
• Sāmaveda
• Yajurveda
• Atharvaveda

Tags

• Vedas
• Sacred taxonomy
• Purāṇic symbolism
• Ritual knowledge
• Matsya Purana teachings

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not describe pralaya; it emphasizes the Purāṇic ordering of sacred knowledge by listing the four Vedas and expressing them through a symbolic image (four horses).

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

It frames dharma as grounded in Vedic authority: kings and householders are expected to uphold rites, ethics, and governance aligned with the Vedas, here summarized as the four foundational scriptures.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu rule appears, but the verse supports ritual orthopraxy: temple worship and consecration procedures in the Matsya Purana are repeatedly anchored in Vedic legitimacy (the four Vedas as the source-base).