Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

यः शरीराद् अभिध्याय सिसृक्षुर्विविधं जगत् अप एव ससर्जादौ तासु वीर्यम् अवासृजत् //

Transliteration

yaḥ śarīrād abhidhyāya sisṛkṣurvividhaṃ jagat apa eva sasarjādau tāsu vīryam avāsṛjat //

Translation

彼从自身之内观照，欲生起种种世界，先造诸水；继而于彼水中安置其生殖之力（vīrya）。

Word by Word

• यः (yaḥ): he who

• शरीरात् (śarīrāt): from (his) body/being

• अभिध्याय (abhidhyāya): having contemplated, having willed/meditated

• सिसृक्षुः (sisṛkṣuḥ): desiring to create

• विविधम् (vividham): manifold, diverse

• जगत् (jagat): the world/universe

• अपः (apaḥ): the Waters (primeval waters)

• एव (eva): indeed, first and foremost

• ससर्ज (sasarja): created

• आदौ (ādau): in the beginning

• तासु (tāsu): in them (in those waters)

• वीर्यम् (vīryam): seed, generative energy/potency

• अवासृजत् (avāsṛjat): he released/placed/deposited.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (creation narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Primeval Waters (Āpaḥ)
• Creator (as the Supreme Lord/Brahman in Purāṇic idiom)

Tags

• Creation
• Cosmogony
• Āpaḥ
• Sarga
• Seed of creation

FAQs

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

It describes the opening movement of creation (sarga): before differentiated worlds appear, the primeval Waters are produced first, and the divine “seed” (vīrya) is placed in them as the causal power from which further creation unfolds.

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

By analogy, it models purposeful creation: a king or householder should act after clear intention (abhidhyāna) and establish a stable foundation first—like “waters” as the base—before expanding projects such as governance, family duties, or charitable works.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Direct Vāstu rules are not stated, but the principle is foundational: rites and constructions begin by establishing a purified base element (often water in ritual purification) before “installing” potency—mirroring how consecration (pratiṣṭhā) places sacred power into a prepared locus.