Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

त्वं भ्रान्तिः सर्वबोधानां त्वं गतिः क्रतुयाजिनाम् जलधीनां महावेला त्वं च लीला विलासिनाम् //

Transliteration

tvaṃ bhrāntiḥ sarvabodhānāṃ tvaṃ gatiḥ kratuyājinām jaladhīnāṃ mahāvelā tvaṃ ca līlā vilāsinām //

Translation

Du bist Bhrānti, die Verwirrung, die jede Art von Erkenntnis verhüllt; und du bist Gati, die letzte Zuflucht derer, die vedische Opfer vollziehen. Für die Ozeane bist du Mahāvelā, das mächtige Ufer; und für die Spielenden bist du Līlā, die Wonne anmutiger, spielerischer Bewegung.

Word by Word

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• भ्रान्तिः (bhrāntiḥ): delusion, bewilderment, confounding power

• सर्व-बोधानाम् (sarva-bodhānām): of all understandings/knowledges, of all who know

• गतिः (gatiḥ): goal, course, refuge, final destination

• क्रतु-याजिनाम् (kratu-yājinām): of those who perform kratu-sacrifices (Vedic ritualists)

• जलधीनाम् (jaladhīnām): of the oceans

• महा-वेला (mahā-velā): the great boundary/shoreline/tide-mark (limit)

• च (ca): and

• लीला-विलासिनाम् (līlā-vilāsinām): of those who delight in līlā (divine play), pleasure-seekers/sportive beings

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (praising Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu)
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Kratu (Vedic sacrifice)

Tags

• Stuti
• Bhakti
• Maya
• Yajna
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames the Supreme (Matsya/Vishnu) as the power that both limits and contains the waters—symbolized by “the great shoreline” of the oceans—an image often resonant with the Purana’s flood/deluge themes.

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

It aligns royal/householder dharma with sacrificial duty (kratu-yajña) while reminding that ritual success ultimately culminates in “gati”—the Supreme as the final refuge—encouraging humility and devotion alongside duty.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it explicitly references kratu-yajña performers, emphasizing Vedic sacrifice; architecturally it does not give Vastu rules here, but uses a boundary-image (mahā-velā) as a cosmic metaphor of order/limit.