Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा ऋषं परत्वेन श्रुतास्तस्माच्छ्रुतर्षयः अव्यक्तात्मा महात्मा वा-हंकारात्मा तथैव च //

Transliteration

śrutvā ṛṣaṃ paratvena śrutāstasmācchrutarṣayaḥ avyaktātmā mahātmā vā-haṃkārātmā tathaiva ca //

Translation

परत्वेन ऋषिं श्रुत्वा ये श्रुताः, ते तस्माच्छ्रुतर्षयः; ते च त्रिविधमात्मानं व्याचक्षते—अव्यक्तात्मानं, महात्मानं, तथा अहंकारात्मानं च॥

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard

• ṛṣam: the seer/sage (ṛṣi)

• paratvena: as supreme, in the status of the Highest

• śrutāḥ: heard/learned (those who have received the teaching)

• tasmāt: therefore/from that

• chruta-ṛṣayaḥ: sages famed for sacred learning, ‘heard-sages’

• avyaktātmā: the Unmanifest Self (avyakta as principle)

• mahātmā: the Great Self (mahat principle)

• ahaṃkārātmā: the Ego Self (ahaṃkāra principle)

• tathaiva ca: and likewise/indeed also

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu; cosmological/metaphysical exposition)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛṣi (seer)
• Avyakta
• Mahat
• Ahaṃkāra

Tags

• Sāṅkhya
• Cosmology
• Tattva
• Ātman
• Creation theory

FAQs

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

It frames creation in Sāṅkhya terms: from the Unmanifest (avyakta) arises the Great Principle (mahat), and from that the Ego-principle (ahaṃkāra)—a standard chain used to explain cosmic manifestation and its re-absorption in pralaya.

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

Indirectly, it grounds dharma in self-knowledge: by discerning the unmanifest, cosmic intellect, and ego, a king or householder can restrain ego-driven action and govern/act with steadiness and detachment—an ethical outcome frequently emphasized in Purāṇic instruction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the verse supplies metaphysical vocabulary (avyakta–mahat–ahaṃkāra) that later supports Purāṇic temple/ritual symbolism where cosmic principles are mapped onto iconography and sacred space.