Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

आरोप्य रज्जुयोगेन मत्प्रदत्तेन सुव्रत संयम्य नावं मच्छृङ्गे मत्स्यभावाभिरक्षितः //

Transliteration

āropya rajjuyogena matpradattena suvrata saṃyamya nāvaṃ macchṛṅge matsyabhāvābhirakṣitaḥ //

Translation

Wahai yang berkaul luhur, ikatlah perahu dengan susunan tali yang Kuberikan dan tambatkan pada tanduk-Ku; dilindungi oleh hakikat-Ku sebagai Ikan, engkau akan terjaga.

Word by Word

• āropya: having fastened/attached

• rajju-yogena: by a rope-device/rope arrangement

• mat-pradattena: given by me

• su-vrata: O you of good vows (Manu)

• saṃyamya: having firmly secured/controlled

• nāvam: the boat

• mat-śṛṅge (macchṛṅge): to my horn

• matsya-bhāva-abhirakṣitaḥ: protected/guarded by (my) fish-form/nature

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Boat (nau)
• Horn of Matsya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya Avatara
• Manu
• Divine Protection
• Great Flood

FAQs

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

It depicts the practical mechanics of surviving Pralaya: Manu’s boat is tethered to Lord Matsya’s horn, showing that cosmic dissolution is endured through divine guidance and protection rather than human power alone.

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

Manu is praised as “suvrata” (disciplined in vows), implying that righteous self-restraint, obedience to sacred instruction, and preparedness in crisis are central virtues for rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a Vastu verse, it has ritual-symbolic significance: the rope-tethering functions like a prescribed procedure (vidhi), emphasizing correct method and disciplined execution—an approach echoed later in Matsya Purana’s rule-based ritual and architectural instructions.