Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

ततस् तान् अब्रवीद् ब्रह्मा पुत्रान् आत्मसमुद्भवान् प्रजाः सृजध्वम् अभितः सदेवासुरमानुषीः //

Transliteration

tatas tān abravīd brahmā putrān ātmasamudbhavān prajāḥ sṛjadhvam abhitaḥ sadevāsuramānuṣīḥ //

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് തന്റെ തന്നെ അസ്തിത്വത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ച പുത്രന്മാരോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളിലും ദേവന്മാർ, അസുരന്മാർ, മനുഷ്യർ എന്നിവരോടുകൂടിയ പ്രജകളെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുവിൻ।”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• tān: to them/those (sons)

• abravīt: said/spoke

• brahmā: Brahmā

• putrān: sons

• ātma-samudbhavān: arisen from his own self/essence

• prajāḥ: creatures/subjects/offspring

• sṛjadhvam: create (plural imperative)

• abhitaḥ: on all sides/everywhere

• sa-devāsura-mānuṣīḥ: along with devas, asuras, and humans

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing Brahmā’s instruction to his mind-born sons)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Prajā (created beings)
• Devas
• Asuras
• Humans (Mānuṣas)

Tags

• Creation
• Prajā-sarga
• Cosmogony
• Devas and Asuras
• Matsya Purana narrative

FAQs

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

It presents the post-origination phase of creation: Brahmā commissions his self-born sons to proliferate beings—devas, asuras, and humans—indicating ordered re-population rather than dissolution.

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

By framing society as part of “prajā” (subjects/creatures) within a divinely ordered creation, it underwrites dharma: kings protect and govern prajā, and householders sustain prajā through righteous livelihood and progeny.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule appears in this verse; its significance is foundational—establishing the cosmic mandate for orderly manifestation, which later supports Purāṇic prescriptions for rites and sacred construction as part of maintaining dharma.