Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

चतुर्थम् अभवत् पश्चाद् वामं कामशरातुरम् ततो ऽन्यद् अभवत् तस्य कामातुरतया तथा //

Transliteration

caturtham abhavat paścād vāmaṃ kāmaśarāturam tato 'nyad abhavat tasya kāmāturatayā tathā //

Translation

Danach entstand eine vierte Gestalt — zur Linken — von den Pfeilen der Begierde getroffen; und dann kam aus ihr wiederum eine weitere hervor, ebenso, weil sie von Leidenschaft gequält war.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थम् (caturtham): the fourth (one/form)

• अभवत् (abhavat): arose/came into being

• पश्चात् (paścāt): afterwards

• वामम् (vāmam): on the left/left-side

• काम-शर-आतुरम् (kāma-śara-āturam): distressed by the arrows of Kāma (desire)

• ततः (tataḥ): then/from that

• अन्यत् (anyat): another (one/form)

• अभवत् (abhavat): arose/came into being

• तस्य (tasya): from it/of that

• काम-आतुरतया (kāma-āturatayā): due to being afflicted by desire/passion

• तथा (tathā): likewise/in the same manner

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account; within the frame, teachings are associated with the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Kāma (desire)

Tags

• Creation
• Desire
• Progeny
• Cosmology
• Sarga

FAQs

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

It describes creation (sarga) dynamics: new forms arise sequentially, propelled by kāma (desire), rather than describing pralaya directly.

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

By portraying kāma as a powerful generative force that can also afflict, it implicitly supports the Purāṇic ethic that householders and rulers must regulate desire through dharma to prevent disorder.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule appears in this verse; its value is doctrinal—explaining how passion-driven differentiation unfolds in the creation narrative.