Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

तपसश्च तथारण्ये साधुर्वैखानसः स्मृतः यतमानो यतिः साधुः स्मृतो योगस्य साधनात् //

Transliteration

tapasaśca tathāraṇye sādhurvaikhānasaḥ smṛtaḥ yatamāno yatiḥ sādhuḥ smṛto yogasya sādhanāt //

Translation

అదేవిధంగా అరణ్యంలో తపస్సు ఆచరించువాడు నిజమైన వైఖానసుడు (వనతపస్వి) అని స్మృతిలో చెప్పబడెను. నియమసంయమాలతో యత్నించు యతి యోగసాధనాన్ని అనుష్ఠించుటవలన ‘సాధువు’ అని పిలువబడును.

Word by Word

• tapasas: by austerity, through penance

• ca: and

• tathā: likewise, in that manner

• araṇye: in the forest

• sādhuḥ: a virtuous person, a true ascetic

• vaikhānasaḥ: a Vaikhānasa (forest-dwelling ascetic tradition)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/considered

• yatamānaḥ: striving, making effort (with restraint)

• yatiḥ: a renunciant/ascetic

• sādhuḥ: good, saintly

• smṛtaḥ: is declared/held to be

• yogasya: of Yoga

• sādhanāt: from the practice/means/discipline (that leads to Yoga).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaikhānasa
• Yati
• Yoga

Tags

• Dharma
• Tapas
• Sannyasa
• Yoga
• Forest-asceticism

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it defines spiritual qualifications—how austerity, forest-dwelling discipline, and yoga-practice characterize a true ascetic.

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

It offers a standard for recognizing genuine holy persons (sādhus/yatis) whom a king or householder may honor and learn from—those grounded in tapas, restraint, and yoga-sādhana rather than mere outward signs.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is that authentic sanctity is tied to disciplined practice (tapas and yoga-sādhana), especially in the forest-ascetic (Vaikhānasa) mode.