Matsya Purana — Manvantaras, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तते तथा ते तु यथा मत्स्योदकावुभौ चेतनाधिकृतं सर्वं प्रावर्तत गुणात्मकम् कार्यकारणभावेन तथा तस्य प्रवर्तते //

Transliteration

pravartate tathā te tu yathā matsyodakāvubhau cetanādhikṛtaṃ sarvaṃ prāvartata guṇātmakam kāryakāraṇabhāvena tathā tasya pravartate //

Translation

وہ بھی اسی طرح کارفرما ہوتے ہیں جیسے مچھلی اور پانی باہمی انحصار میں ہیں۔ اسی طرح جب چیتنا نگہبان ہو تو گُنوں سے بنا ہوا سب کچھ علت و معلول کے رشتے کے مطابق حرکت میں آتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/operates

• तथा: thus/likewise

• ते: they (the principles/tattvas)

• तु: indeed

• यथा: just as

• मत्स्य-उदकौ: fish and water

• उभौ: both

• चेतना-अधिकृतम्: presided over/activated by consciousness

• सर्वम्: all

• प्रावर्तत: comes into motion/sets forth

• गुण-आत्मकम्: constituted of the guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

• कार्य-कारण-भावेन: by the state/logic of effect and cause

• तथा: thus

• तस्य: of that (manifest nature/world-process)

• प्रवर्तते: operates/continues.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya (as illustrative analogy: fish and water)
• Cetanā (Consciousness)
• Guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)
• Kārya–Kāraṇa (cause–effect principle)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Prakriti
• Gunas
• Cause-and-effect
• Sankhya

FAQs

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

It explains that the guṇa-made world-process (prakṛti and its evolutes) does not operate independently; it becomes active only when presided over by consciousness, and it unfolds through orderly cause-and-effect—an idea used in the Purana to frame both manifestation (sarga) and withdrawal (pralaya) as governed processes.

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

By emphasizing dependable causation (kārya–kāraṇa), it supports the ethical logic that actions produce results; hence a king or householder should act with dharma-aware intention, knowing governance, charity, ritual, and restraint yield corresponding outcomes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the takeaway is conceptual: rituals and constructions are also ‘cause-and-effect’ systems—proper intention (cetanā), correct procedure, and right materials lead to stable, auspicious results, aligning with later Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips.