Matsya Purana — Chapter 52

MtP 52.1

इदानीं प्राह यद्विष्णुः पृष्टः परममुत्तमम् तदिदानीं समाचक्ष्व धर्माधर्मस्य विस्तरम्

idānīṃ prāha yadviṣṇuḥ pṛṣṭaḥ paramamuttamam tadidānīṃ samācakṣva dharmādharmasya vistaram

That supreme, most excellent (teaching) which Viṣṇu, when asked, then spoke — relate that now, the full account of dharma and adharma.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.2

एवमेकार्णवे तस्मिन् मत्स्यरूपी जनार्दनः विस्तारमादिसर्गस्य प्रतिसर्गस्य चाखिलम्

evamekārṇave tasmin matsyarūpī janārdanaḥ vistāramādisargasya pratisargasya cākhilam

Thus, in that single ocean, Janārdana in the form of a fish (told) the whole extent of the primal creation and of the re-creation,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.3

कथयामास विश्वात्मा मनवे सूर्यसूनवे कर्मयोगं च सांख्यं च यथावद्विस्तरान्वितम्

kathayāmāsa viśvātmā manave sūryasūnave karmayogaṃ ca sāṃkhyaṃ ca yathāvadvistarānvitam

— he, the Self of all, recounted to Manu, son of the Sun, both the yoga of action and the Sāṃkhya, duly and with full detail.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.4

श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सूत कर्मयोगस्य लक्षणम् यस्मादविदितं लोके न किंचित्तव सुव्रत

śrotumicchāmahe sūta karmayogasya lakṣaṇam yasmādaviditaṃ loke na kiṃcittava suvrata

We wish to hear, O Sūta, the characteristics of the yoga of action, since there is nothing in the world unknown to you, O man of good vows.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.5

कर्मयोगं च वक्ष्यामि यथा विष्णुविभाषितम् ज्ञानयोगसहस्राद्धि कर्मयोगः प्रशस्यते

karmayogaṃ ca vakṣyāmi yathā viṣṇuvibhāṣitam jñānayogasahasrāddhi karmayogaḥ praśasyate

And I shall declare the yoga of action as it was expounded by Viṣṇu; for the yoga of action is praised above a thousand yogas of knowledge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.6

कर्मयोगोद्भवं ज्ञानं तस्मात्तत्परमं पदम् कर्मज्ञानोद्भवं ब्रह्म न च ज्ञानमकर्मणः

karmayogodbhavaṃ jñānaṃ tasmāttatparamaṃ padam karmajñānodbhavaṃ brahma na ca jñānamakarmaṇaḥ

Knowledge arises from the yoga of action, therefore that is the highest state; brahman arises from action and knowledge, and there is no knowledge for one who does not act.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.7

तस्मात्कर्मणि युक्तात्मा तत्त्वमाप्नोति शाश्वतम् वेदो ऽखिलो धर्ममूलम् आचारश्चैव तद्विदाम्

tasmātkarmaṇi yuktātmā tattvamāpnoti śāśvatam vedo 'khilo dharmamūlam ācāraścaiva tadvidām

Therefore one whose self is joined to action attains the everlasting truth. The whole Veda is the root of dharma, and so too is the conduct of those who know it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.8

अष्टावात्मगुणास् तस्मिन् प्रधानत्वेन संस्थिताः दया सर्वेषु भूतेषु क्षान्ती रक्षातुरस्य तु

aṣṭāvātmaguṇās tasmin pradhānatvena saṃsthitāḥ dayā sarveṣu bhūteṣu kṣāntī rakṣāturasya tu

Eight qualities of the self are established in it as the chief ones: compassion toward all beings, patience, and forbearance (?) toward one who is afflicted.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 52.9

अनसूया तथा लोके शौचमन्तर्बहिर्द्विजाः अनायासेषु कार्येषु माङ्गल्याचारसेवनम्

anasūyā tathā loke śaucamantarbahirdvijāḥ anāyāseṣu kāryeṣu māṅgalyācārasevanam

Likewise absence of fault-finding in the world, purity within and without, O twice-born ones, and, in undertakings that involve no strain, the observance of auspicious practices;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 52.10

न च द्रव्येषु कार्पण्यम् आर्तेषूपार्जितेषु च तथास्पृहा परद्रव्ये परस्त्रीषु च सर्वदा

na ca dravyeṣu kārpaṇyam ārteṣūpārjiteṣu ca tathāspṛhā paradravye parastrīṣu ca sarvadā

and no niggardliness with goods, even those acquired with hardship (?), and likewise no craving for another's property or for other men's wives at any time.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 52.11

अष्टावात्मगुणाः प्रोक्ताः पुराणस्य तु कोविदैः अयमेव क्रियायोगो ज्ञानयोगस्य साधकः

aṣṭāvātmaguṇāḥ proktāḥ purāṇasya tu kovidaiḥ ayameva kriyāyogo jñānayogasya sādhakaḥ

These are declared by those learned in the Purāṇa to be the eight qualities of the self. This very thing is the yoga of ritual action, which brings about the yoga of knowledge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.12

कर्मयोगं विना ज्ञानं कस्यचिन् नेह दृश्यते श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्मम् उपतिष्ठेत्प्रयत्नतः

karmayogaṃ vinā jñānaṃ kasyacin neha dṛśyate śrutismṛtyuditaṃ dharmam upatiṣṭhetprayatnataḥ

Without the yoga of action, knowledge is seen in no one here; one should carefully attend upon the dharma set forth in śruti and smṛti.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.13

देवतानां पितॄणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वदा कुर्यादहरहर्यज्ञैर् भूतर्षिगणतर्पणम्

devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca manuṣyāṇāṃ ca sarvadā kuryādaharaharyajñair bhūtarṣigaṇatarpaṇam

For the gods, for the ancestors, and for men, one should always, day by day, perform by sacrifices the gratification of the beings and the host of seers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.14

स्वाध्यायैरर्चयेच्चर्षीन् होमैर्विद्वान्यथाविधि पितॄञ्छ्राद्धैर् अन्नदानैर् भूतानि बलिकर्मभिः

svādhyāyairarcayeccarṣīn homairvidvānyathāvidhi pitṝñchrāddhair annadānair bhūtāni balikarmabhiḥ

The learned man should honour the seers with recitation of the Veda, (the gods) with oblations according to rule, the ancestors with śrāddha rites, men with gifts of food, and the beings with offerings of bali.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.15

पञ्चैते विहिता यज्ञाः पञ्चसूनापनुत्तये कण्डनी पेषणी चुल्ली जलकुम्भी प्रमार्जनी

pañcaite vihitā yajñāḥ pañcasūnāpanuttaye kaṇḍanī peṣaṇī cullī jalakumbhī pramārjanī

These five sacrifices are prescribed for the removal of the five slaughter-places: the mortar, the grinding-stone, the hearth, the water-jar, and the broom.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.16

पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य तेन स्वर्गं न गच्छति तत्पापनाशनायामी पञ्च यज्ञाः प्रकीर्तिताः

pañca sūnā gṛhasthasya tena svargaṃ na gacchati tatpāpanāśanāyāmī pañca yajñāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

A householder has five slaughter-places; because of them he does not go to heaven. For the destruction of that sin these five sacrifices have been proclaimed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.17

द्वाविंशतिस्तथाष्टौ च ये संस्काराः प्रकीर्तिताः तद्युक्तो ऽपि न मोक्षाय यस्त्वात्मगुणवर्जितः

dvāviṃśatistathāṣṭau ca ye saṃskārāḥ prakīrtitāḥ tadyukto 'pi na mokṣāya yastvātmaguṇavarjitaḥ

The consecratory rites that have been proclaimed are twenty-two and eight (in number); yet even one endowed with them is not (fit) for liberation if he is devoid of the qualities of the self.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.18

तस्मादात्मगुणोपेतः श्रुतिकर्म समाचरेत् गोब्राह्मणानां वित्तेन सर्वदा भद्रमाचरेत्

tasmādātmaguṇopetaḥ śrutikarma samācaret gobrāhmaṇānāṃ vittena sarvadā bhadramācaret

Therefore, endowed with the qualities of the self, let him perform the rites of scripture; with his wealth let him always do good to cows and brahmins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.19

गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिर् गन्धमाल्योदकेन च पूजयेद्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्करुद्रवस्वात्मकं शिवम्

gobhūhiraṇyavāsobhir gandhamālyodakena ca pūjayedbrahmaviṣṇvarkarudravasvātmakaṃ śivam

With cows, land, gold and garments, and with fragrance, garlands and water, let him worship Śiva, who has Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, Rudra and the Vasus as his own self.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.20

व्रतोपवासैर् विधिवच्छ्रद्धया च विमत्सरः यो ऽसाव् अतीन्द्रियः शान्तः सूक्ष्मो ऽव्यक्तः सनातनः वासुदेवो जगन्मूर्तिस् तस्य सम्भूतयो ह्य् अमी

vratopavāsair vidhivacchraddhayā ca vimatsaraḥ yo 'sāv atīndriyaḥ śāntaḥ sūkṣmo 'vyaktaḥ sanātanaḥ vāsudevo jaganmūrtis tasya sambhūtayo hy amī

And with vows and fasts according to rule, and with faith, free from envy (let him worship him). He who is beyond the senses, tranquil, subtle, unmanifest, eternal, Vāsudeva whose form is the world — of him indeed these are the manifestations.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.21

ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च भगवान् मार्तण्डो वृषवाहनः अष्टौ च वसवस्तद्वद् एकादश गणाधिपाः लोकपालाधिपाश्चैव पितरो मातरस्तथा

brahmā viṣṇuśca bhagavān mārtaṇḍo vṛṣavāhanaḥ aṣṭau ca vasavastadvad ekādaśa gaṇādhipāḥ lokapālādhipāścaiva pitaro mātarastathā

Brahmā, and the Lord Viṣṇu, the Sun, the bull-rider (Śiva), likewise the eight Vasus, the eleven lords of hosts, and the chief guardians of the worlds, the fathers and the mothers as well.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.22

इमा विभूतयः प्रोक्ताश् चराचरसमन्विताः ब्रह्माद्याश् चतुरो मूलम् अव्यक्ताधिपतिः स्मृतः

imā vibhūtayaḥ proktāś carācarasamanvitāḥ brahmādyāś caturo mūlam avyaktādhipatiḥ smṛtaḥ

These have been declared to be the manifestations, together with what moves and does not move; the four beginning with Brahmā are the root, and (he) is remembered as the lord of the unmanifest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 52.23

ॐ ॐ ब्रह्मणा चाथ सूर्येण विष्णुनाथ शिवेन वा अभेदात्पूजितेन स्यात् पूजितं सचराचरम्

oṃ oṃ brahmaṇā cātha sūryeṇa viṣṇunātha śivena vā abhedātpūjitena syāt pūjitaṃ sacarācaram

Oṃ, oṃ. Whether by Brahmā, or by the Sun, or by Viṣṇu, or by Śiva — since there is no difference, when one of them is worshipped, (the whole world) with what moves and does not move would be worshipped.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.24

ब्रह्मादीनां परं धाम त्रयाणामपि संस्थितिः वेदमूर्ताव् अतः पूषा पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः

brahmādīnāṃ paraṃ dhāma trayāṇāmapi saṃsthitiḥ vedamūrtāv ataḥ pūṣā pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ

(He is) the supreme abode of Brahmā and the rest, and the standing-place of the three as well; therefore Pūṣan (the Sun), whose form is the Veda, is to be worshipped diligently.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 52.25

तस्मादग्निद्विजमुखान् कृत्वा सम्पूजयेदिमान् दानैर्व्रतोपवासैश्च जपहोमादिना नरः

tasmādagnidvijamukhān kṛtvā sampūjayedimān dānairvratopavāsaiśca japahomādinā naraḥ

Therefore a man should make fire and the mouths of the twice-born (the recipients) and worship these with gifts, with vows and fasts, and with muttered prayer, oblation and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 52.26

इति क्रियायोगपरायणस्य वेदान्तशास्त्रस्मृतिवत्सलस्य विकर्मभीतस्य सदा न किंचित् प्राप्तव्यमस्तीह परे च लोके

iti kriyāyogaparāyaṇasya vedāntaśāstrasmṛtivatsalasya vikarmabhītasya sadā na kiṃcit prāptavyamastīha pare ca loke

Thus, for one devoted to the yoga of ritual action, fond of the Vedānta, the treatises and the traditional codes, and ever fearful of forbidden acts, there is nothing left to be attained, here or in the other world.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition