Matsya Purana — Śiva–Pārvatī Quarrel and Pārvatī’s Resolve for Austerity to Attain Gaurī-hood, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

यथा न काचित् प्रविशेद् योषिदत्र हरान्तिकम् दृष्ट्वा परांस्त्रियं चात्र वदेथा मम पुत्रक //

Transliteration

yathā na kācit praviśed yoṣidatra harāntikam dṛṣṭvā parāṃstriyaṃ cātra vadethā mama putraka //

Translation

احرصْ ألّا تدخلَ امرأةٌ إلى هنا لتقتربَ قربًا خاصًّا من رجلٍ غير زوجها. وإن رأيتَ هنا زوجةَ رجلٍ آخر، فقلْ في الحال: «إنها لي، يا بُنَيّ!»

Word by Word

• yathā: so that/in such a way

• na: not

• kācit: any (woman)

• praviśet: should enter

• yoṣit: woman

• atra: here

• hara-antikam: into (a man’s) close/private presence (lit. ‘near’)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• parām: another’s

• striyam: wife/woman

• ca: and

• atra: here

• vadethāḥ: you should say/speak

• mama: mine

• putraka: my son (term of address)

Speaker

• An elder authority figure instructing a younger male (addressed as putraka), within Matsya Purana’s nīti/ācāra discourse (commonly framed as Matsya/Vishnu’s instruction to Manu).

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Grihastha-dharma
• Social conduct
• Household honor

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is ethical instruction (nīti/ācāra) focused on household boundaries and social propriety, not cosmology or pralaya.

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

It frames a duty of vigilance and boundary-keeping: a householder (and by extension a ruler responsible for public order) should prevent improper access and situations that could lead to scandal, coercion, or breach of marital/social norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

There is no explicit Vāstu or ritual rule, but it implies controlled access to private quarters—an idea that can align with household/inner-space management rather than temple architecture.