Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

शिष्टा यस्माच्चरन्त्येनं मनुः सप्तर्षयश्च ह मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु शिष्टाचारस्ततः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

śiṣṭā yasmāccarantyenaṃ manuḥ saptarṣayaśca ha manvantareṣu sarveṣu śiṣṭācārastataḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਟ ਤੇ ਆਦਰਸ਼ ਲੋਕ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਤੇ ਸਪਤ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਵੀ ਹਰ ਮਨਵੰਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਸ਼ਚੇ ਹੀ ਇਸੇ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਸਰਣ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਇਹ ‘ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਟਾਚਾਰ’—ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣਿਕ ਪਰੰਪਰਾਗਤ ਸਦਾਚਾਰ—ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• śiṣṭāḥ: the cultured/exemplary (learned, well-conducted) people

• yasmāt: because/since

• caranti: practice/observe

• enam: this (rule/way)

• manuḥ: Manu (lawgiver of mankind)

• saptarṣayaḥ: the Seven Sages (Saptarishis)

• ca: and

• ha: indeed/verily

• manvantareṣu: in (all) Manvantaras (cosmic epochs presided over by a Manu)

• sarveṣu: in all

• śiṣṭācāraḥ: the conduct/custom of the śiṣṭas (normative tradition)

• tataḥ: therefore/from that reason

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/recognized (as authoritative).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Manu
• Saptarishis
• Manvantara
• Śiṣṭa
• Śiṣṭācāra

Tags

• Dharma
• Śiṣṭācāra
• Manvantara
• Smṛti
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes continuity of dharma across cosmic cycles (Manvantaras), implying that righteous norms persist even as ages change.

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

It defines a practical standard for duty: rulers and householders should model their conduct on śiṣṭācāra—what exemplary, learned people uphold—validated by Manu and the Saptarishis as a reliable guide when moral questions arise.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated, but the principle supports Vāstu/ritual manuals in practice: correct temple-building or rite-performance is confirmed by śiṣṭācāra—established expert tradition—alongside scriptural injunctions.