Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

ऋषिस्तस्मात्परत्वेन भूतादिरृषयस्ततः ऋषिपुत्रा ऋषीकास्तु मैथुनाद्गर्भसम्भवाः //

Transliteration

ṛṣistasmātparatvena bhūtādirṛṣayastataḥ ṛṣiputrā ṛṣīkāstu maithunādgarbhasambhavāḥ //

Translation

म्हणून उच्च (आध्यात्मिक) परत्वामुळे त्यांना ‘ऋषी’ म्हणतात; पुढे भूत इत्यादी आद्य ऋषी प्रसिद्ध झाले. परंतु ‘ऋषीका’ या ऋषींच्या कन्या—मैथुनातून गर्भात उत्पन्न झालेल्या॥

Word by Word

• ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ): sage/seer

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore/from that

• परत्वेन (paratvena): by superiority/by higher status

• भूतादिः (bhūtādiḥ): beginning with Bhūta/the primordial ones starting with Bhūta

• ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ): sages

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter/then

• ऋषिपुत्राः (ṛṣiputrāḥ): children of sages (here: daughters)

• ऋषीकाः (ṛṣīkāḥ): Ṛṣīkās (female descendants/ṛṣi-daughters)

• तु (tu): however/indeed

• मैथुनात् (maithunāt): from sexual union

• गर्भसम्भवाः (garbhasambhavāḥ): womb-born/produced through conception

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhūta
• Ṛṣis
• Ṛṣīkās

Tags

• Creation
• Rishi lineages
• Genealogy
• Puranic taxonomy
• Manvantara context

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it classifies beings in creation by explaining how Ṛṣis are designated by spiritual eminence and how Ṛṣīkās arise through ordinary biological birth.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through lineage-clarity: kings and householders are taught to honor Ṛṣis as spiritually eminent authorities, while also recognizing the social-genealogical categories of descendants (such as Ṛṣīkās) within regulated family life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on Ṛṣi-status and lineage categories, which can affect who is honored in rites (e.g., guru/ṛṣi veneration) and how genealogies are recited in Purāṇic ritual contexts.