Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुमुखैर्देवैः श्वसनः प्रतिबोधितः चतुर्मुखं तदा प्राह चराचरगुरुं विभुम् //

Transliteration

atha viṣṇumukhairdevaiḥ śvasanaḥ pratibodhitaḥ caturmukhaṃ tadā prāha carācaraguruṃ vibhum //

Translation

Dann wurde Śvasana (Atem, Wind), von den Göttern unter Führung Viṣṇus erweckt, und sprach zu dem viergesichtigen Brahmā, dem mächtigen Herrn und Lehrer alles Bewegten und Unbewegten.

Word by Word

• atha: then

• viṣṇu-mukhaiḥ devaiḥ: by the gods with Viṣṇu at their head

• śvasanaḥ: Śvasana (the Wind/Breath principle, a personified deity)

• pratibodhitaḥ: awakened, roused

• caturmukham: the four-faced one (Brahmā)

• tadā: at that time

• prāha: said, spoke

• cara-acara-gurum: the guru/teacher of the moving and the unmoving (all beings)

• vibhum: the mighty one, the all-pervading lord

Speaker

• Śvasana (personified Wind/Breath deity), after being roused by the gods led by Viṣṇu

Entities Mentioned

• Viṣṇu
• Devas
• Śvasana
• Brahmā (Caturmukha)

Tags

• Deva-Dialogue
• Cosmic Order
• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Sarga

FAQs

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

It frames a cosmic-administrative moment: gods led by Viṣṇu rouse Śvasana and he approaches Brahmā, implying a coordinated divine response typical of creation/restoration phases surrounding dissolution and renewal.

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

Indirectly, it models dharmic governance: when order is disturbed, responsible agents seek counsel from the rightful authority (Brahmā as ‘guru of the moving and unmoving’), paralleling a king or householder consulting śāstra and elders before acting.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse mainly establishes speaker hierarchy and authority—useful as narrative groundwork before prescriptive sections where Brahmā’s instruction becomes the source for rules.