Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तते तथा ते तु यथा मत्स्योदकावुभौ चेतनाधिकृतं सर्वं प्रावर्तत गुणात्मकम् कार्यकारणभावेन तथा तस्य प्रवर्तते //

Transliteration

pravartate tathā te tu yathā matsyodakāvubhau cetanādhikṛtaṃ sarvaṃ prāvartata guṇātmakam kāryakāraṇabhāvena tathā tasya pravartate //

Translation

Ainsi encore agissent-ils—comme le poisson et l’eau, qui existent dans une dépendance réciproque. De même, tout ce qui est constitué des guṇa entre en opération lorsqu’il est présidé par la conscience (cetanā), et progresse selon le rapport de cause et d’effet ; ainsi se déploie son activité.

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/operates

• तथा: thus/likewise

• ते: they (the principles/tattvas)

• तु: indeed

• यथा: just as

• मत्स्य-उदकौ: fish and water

• उभौ: both

• चेतना-अधिकृतम्: presided over/activated by consciousness

• सर्वम्: all

• प्रावर्तत: comes into motion/sets forth

• गुण-आत्मकम्: constituted of the guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

• कार्य-कारण-भावेन: by the state/logic of effect and cause

• तथा: thus

• तस्य: of that (manifest nature/world-process)

• प्रवर्तते: operates/continues.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya (as illustrative analogy: fish and water)
• Cetanā (Consciousness)
• Guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)
• Kārya–Kāraṇa (cause–effect principle)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Prakriti
• Gunas
• Cause-and-effect
• Sankhya

FAQs

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

It explains that the guṇa-made world-process (prakṛti and its evolutes) does not operate independently; it becomes active only when presided over by consciousness, and it unfolds through orderly cause-and-effect—an idea used in the Purana to frame both manifestation (sarga) and withdrawal (pralaya) as governed processes.

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

By emphasizing dependable causation (kārya–kāraṇa), it supports the ethical logic that actions produce results; hence a king or householder should act with dharma-aware intention, knowing governance, charity, ritual, and restraint yield corresponding outcomes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the takeaway is conceptual: rituals and constructions are also ‘cause-and-effect’ systems—proper intention (cetanā), correct procedure, and right materials lead to stable, auspicious results, aligning with later Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips.