Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

नवाङ्गुलप्रमाणेन निष्पन्नेन तथाष्टकम् एतत्स्वाभाविकं तेषां प्रमाणमधिकुर्वताम् //

Transliteration

navāṅgulapramāṇena niṣpannena tathāṣṭakam etatsvābhāvikaṃ teṣāṃ pramāṇamadhikurvatām //

Translation

जब नौ अङ्गुल का मान स्थापित हो और उसी के अनुसार आठक (आठ इकाइयों का समूह) भी निश्चित हो—तो यह उन लोगों का स्वाभाविक प्रमाण है जो मूल मान से अनुपात बढ़ाते हैं।

Word by Word

• नव (nava): nine

• अङ्गुल (aṅgula): finger-breadth, a traditional unit of measure

• प्रमाणेन (pramāṇena): by/with the measure, according to the standard

• निष्पन्नेन (niṣpannena): established, properly formed, duly produced

• तथा (tathā): likewise, in the same way

• अष्टकम् (aṣṭakam): a set of eight, octad (of units/divisions)

• एतत् (etat): this

• स्वाभाविकम् (svābhāvikam): natural, intrinsic, standard by nature

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of them, for those (artisans/practitioners)

• प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam): measurement, canonical proportion

• अधिकुर्वताम् (adhikurvatām): of those who increase/augment (the measure/proportion)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Iconography
• Temple architecture
• Measurements

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on Vastu/Śilpa standards—how canonical measurements (aṅgula-based) are set when proportions are enlarged.

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

It supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders commissioning temples or images should follow standardized measurements so worship-objects are made according to śāstric proportion rather than personal whim.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It indicates a technical rule of proportion: a base measure of nine aṅgulas and an associated “octad” division are treated as the natural standard when scaling up iconographic or architectural dimensions.