Matsya Purana — Questions on Padmanabha’s Lotus-Creation in the Padma Mahakalpa; Prelude to N..., Shloka 5

Devanagari script

प्रभावात्पद्मनाभस्य स्वपतः सागराम्भसि पुष्करे च कथं भूता देवाः सर्षिगणाः पुरा //

Transliteration

prabhāvātpadmanābhasya svapataḥ sāgarāmbhasi puṣkare ca kathaṃ bhūtā devāḥ sarṣigaṇāḥ purā //

Translation

Oleh daya Padmanābha yang berbaring dalam tidur yoga di atas air samudra—bagaimanakah pada zaman purba para dewa beserta rombongan ṛṣi menjadi termanifestasi, dan bagaimana mereka muncul di atas padma (teratai)?

Word by Word

• prabhāvāt: by the power/effect

• padmanābhasya: of Padmanābha (Viṣṇu, ‘lotus-naveled’)

• svapataḥ: while sleeping (in yogic sleep)

• sāgara-ambhasi: in the waters of the ocean

• puṣkare: on/in the lotus

• ca: and

• katham: how?

• bhūtāḥ: became/manifested

• devāḥ: the gods

• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇāḥ: together with the groups/hosts of sages

• purā: formerly/in ancient times

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (inquiring of Lord Matsya/Viṣṇu in the flood-dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Padmanabha (Vishnu)
• Devas
• Rishis (Rishi-gana)
• Cosmic Ocean (Sagara)
• Lotus (Pushkara)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmogony
• Vishnu
• Padmanabha
• Srishti

FAQs

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

It frames creation as emerging from Padmanābha’s divine potency during yoga-nidrā on the cosmic ocean, with devas and ṛṣis manifesting in that primordial phase associated with the lotus.

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

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in cosmic order: kings and householders preserve stability (dharma) in society just as divine order re-emerges after pralaya—implying governance and conduct should align with the sustaining power of Viṣṇu.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The lotus (puṣkara) motif is a key ritual-iconographic symbol in temple design and worship—used in maṇḍalas, altar layouts, and Viṣṇu iconography—though this verse itself is primarily cosmological rather than technical Vāstu instruction.