Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच शृणु राजन्महाबाहो तडागादिषु यो विधिः पुराणेष्वितिहासो ऽयं पठ्यते वेदवादिभिः //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca śṛṇu rājanmahābāho taḍāgādiṣu yo vidhiḥ purāṇeṣvitihāso 'yaṃ paṭhyate vedavādibhiḥ //

Translation

മത്സ്യഭഗവാൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ഹേ രാജൻ, മഹാബാഹോ! തടാകാദി ജലകാര്യങ്ങളിലെ വിധി കേൾക്കുക; പുരാണങ്ങളിൽ നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന ഈ ഇതിവൃത്തം വേദവാദികൾ പാരായണം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच: Matsya said

• शृणु: listen

• राजन्: O king

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one

• तडागादिषु: regarding ponds and the like (tanks, reservoirs, etc.)

• यः: which

• विधिः: procedure/rule/ordinance

• पुराणेषु: in the Purāṇas

• इतिहासः अयम्: this traditional narrative/account

• पठ्यते: is recited/read

• वेदवादिभिः: by Vedic expositors/teachers of Vedic discourse

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Matsya Avatara of Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• King (listener; traditionally Vaivasvata Manu in Matsya-Purana dialogues)
• Veda-vādin (Vedic expositors)
• Purāṇas

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Waterworks
• Tadaga Vidhi
• Rajadharma
• Public welfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it frames an authoritative teaching on civic/ritual procedure for constructing ponds and related waterworks as preserved in Purāṇic tradition.

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

It positions water-reservoir construction as a regulated, tradition-backed duty: a king (and by extension householders with means) should learn and follow prescribed methods for public welfare works like ponds and tanks.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse introduces a formal “vidhi” (technical procedure) for taḍāga-ādi—ponds and allied structures—indicating that Vāstu-style civic construction is treated as a scripture-aligned discipline with standardized rules.