Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

पुरे शयनात्पुरुषो ज्ञानात्क्षेत्रज्ञ उच्यते यस्माद्धर्मात्प्रसूते हि तस्माद्वै धार्मिकस्तु सः //

Transliteration

pure śayanātpuruṣo jñānātkṣetrajña ucyate yasmāddharmātprasūte hi tasmādvai dhārmikastu saḥ //

Translation

‘పురి’—శరీరంలో—శయనించి నివసించుటవలన అతడు పురుషుడు; జ్ఞానస్వరూపుడైనందున ‘క్షేత్రజ్ఞ’ అని పిలువబడును. మరియు అతడు ధర్మమునుండే ప్రసూతుడైనందున నిజంగా ‘ధార్మికుడు’—ధర్మనిష్ఠుడు—అని చెప్పబడును.

Word by Word

• pure: in the city / in the body as a dwelling

• śayanāt: from lying/resting/abiding

• puruṣaḥ: the Person (inner self)

• jñānāt: due to knowledge / from the nature of knowing

• kṣetrajñaḥ: knower of the field (indwelling consciousness)

• ucyate: is called

• yasmāt: because/from which

• dharmāt: from Dharma / righteousness

• prasūte: is born/arises

• hi: indeed

• tasmāt: therefore

• vai: truly/indeed

• dhārmikaḥ: righteous, dharma-founded

• tu: and/but

• saḥ: he

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṣetrajña
• Puruṣa
• Dharma

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Kshetrajna
• Dharma
• Philosophy
• Inner Self

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it defines the indwelling knower (kṣetrajña) and links righteousness (dhārmika) to Dharma, implying a stable spiritual principle that persists beyond external change.

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

By grounding personhood in Dharma, it implies that a king or householder should govern and live as a dhārmika—aligning decisions, protection, and conduct with righteousness rather than mere power or pleasure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse uses ‘city/dwelling’ imagery (pura) to frame the self as the indweller; in Vastu-oriented readings, it supports the idea that a settlement or house should be established with Dharma and right order, as habitation is not merely physical but ethically and spiritually grounded.