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

رِشی کو بطورِ اعلیٰ سن کر جو مشہور ہوئے وہ ‘شُرُت رِشی’ کہلائے؛ اور انہوں نے آتما کو تین قسم کا بتایا—اَوْیَکت آتما، مہاتما، اور اَہنکار آتما۔

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.