Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

सांख्यं संख्यात्मकत्वाच् च कपिलादिभिर् उच्यते एतत् तत्त्वात्मकं कृत्वा जगद् वेधा अजीजनत् //

Transliteration

sāṃkhyaṃ saṃkhyātmakatvāc ca kapilādibhir ucyate etat tattvātmakaṃ kṛtvā jagad vedhā ajījanat //

Translation

തത്ത്വങ്ങളെ എണ്ണിപ്പറയുന്ന സ്വഭാവം കൊണ്ടു കപിലാദി ആചാര്യർ ഇതിനെ ‘സാംഖ്യം’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു. ഈ ഉപദേശത്തെ തത്ത്വസ്വരൂപമാക്കി വെധാ (സ്രഷ്ടാവ്) ലോകത്തെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• sāṃkhyam: Sāṅkhya (the enumerative philosophical system)

• saṃkhyātmakatvāt: because it consists in enumeration / is of the nature of counting (tattvas)

• ca: and

• kapila-ādibhiḥ: by Kapila and others

• ucyate: is said / is called

• etat: this (doctrine/knowledge)

• tattva-ātmakam: having the nature of the principles (tattvas) / constituted by realities

• kṛtvā: having made (it) / having established

• jagat: the world / cosmos

• vedhā: the Ordainer, the Creator (commonly Brahmā)

• ajījanat: created / generated (into existence).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, describing cosmology and tattva-doctrine)

Entities Mentioned

• Kapila
• Vedhā (Brahmā)

Tags

• Sankhya
• Cosmology
• Creation
• Tattvas
• Philosophy

FAQs

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

This verse focuses on creation (sarga), stating that the Creator (Vedhā/Brahmā) generates the world by establishing reality as a structured set of tattvas, understood through Sāṅkhya’s enumerative method.

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

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in right knowledge: by understanding creation as ordered principles (tattvas), a king or householder is encouraged to act with discernment (viveka), restraint, and alignment with cosmic order rather than impulse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; however, the verse provides the metaphysical basis often used in Vāstu and ritual thought—orderly creation through principles—supporting the idea that sacred building and rites should mirror cosmic structure.