Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

व्यालाः केशाः श्रोत्ररन्ध्रा दिशस्ते पादौ भूमिर्नाभिरन्ध्रे समुद्राः मायाकारः कारणं त्वं प्रसिद्धो वेदैः शान्तो ज्योतिषा त्वं विमुक्तः //

Transliteration

vyālāḥ keśāḥ śrotrarandhrā diśaste pādau bhūmirnābhirandhre samudrāḥ māyākāraḥ kāraṇaṃ tvaṃ prasiddho vedaiḥ śānto jyotiṣā tvaṃ vimuktaḥ //

Translation

Schlangen und wilde Wesen sind Dein Haar; die Himmelsrichtungen sind die Öffnungen Deiner Ohren. Die Erde ist Deine Füße, und die Ozeane weilen in der Höhlung Deines Nabels. Du bist der Träger der Māyā—die berühmte Urursache, von den Veden verkündet; in Deinem Wesen friedvoll, und durch das innere Licht der Erkenntnis bist Du immerdar frei.

Word by Word

• व्यालाः (vyālāḥ): serpents/wild beasts

• केशाः (keśāḥ): hair

• श्रोत्ररन्ध्राः (śrotrarandhrāḥ): ear-openings/apertures of hearing

• दिशः (diśaḥ): directions/quarters

• ते (te): your

• पादौ (pādau): feet

• भूमिः (bhūmiḥ): the earth

• नाभिरन्ध्रे (nābhirandhre): in the hollow/opening of the navel

• समुद्राः (samudrāḥ): oceans/seas

• मायाकारः (māyākāraḥ): maker/wielder of māyā (cosmic illusion/power)

• कारणम् (kāraṇam): cause/first cause

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• प्रसिद्धः (prasiddhaḥ): renowned/declared

• वेदैः (vedaiḥ): by the Vedas

• शान्तः (śāntaḥ): peaceful/serene

• ज्योतिषा (jyotiṣā): by light/splendour, i.e., inner illumination/knowledge

• विमुक्तः (vimuktaḥ): liberated/free.

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (hymnic praise addressed to Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vishnu
• Vedas
• Directions (Dik)
• Earth (Bhumi)
• Oceans (Samudra)
• Maya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Vishvarupa
• Cosmology
• Vedic Praise
• Matsya Avatara

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the cosmic body in whom earth, oceans, and directions are contained—implying that during Pralaya the universe is reabsorbed into Him, the Veda-proclaimed first Cause.

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

By portraying the world as the Lord’s body, it grounds dharma in reverence for creation: a king protects earth and beings as sacred trusts, and a householder practices restraint and worship, seeing all life as belonging to the divine order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a direct Vastu rule, the verse supports a key ritual-Vastu idea: the directions are divine limbs, so orientation (dik) and sanctity of space matter in temple planning and consecration—aligning worship with cosmic order.