Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

किंचिच् छ्याममुखोदग्रस्तनभारावनामिताम् महौषधिगणाबद्धमन्त्रराजनिषेविताम् //

Transliteration

kiṃcic chyāmamukhodagrastanabhārāvanāmitām mahauṣadhigaṇābaddhamantrarājaniṣevitām //

Translation

Ihr Antlitz war etwas dunkel; ihre hohen, hervortretenden Brüste ließen sie unter ihrem Gewicht leicht gebeugt erscheinen. Sie war durch Gruppen großer Heilkräuter gesichert und wurde vom König der Mantras (Mantrarāja) umsorgt.

Word by Word

• kiṃcit: somewhat, slightly

• śyāma-mukha: dark/blue-complexioned face

• udagra-stana: high, prominent breasts

• stana-bhāra: the weight/burden of the breasts

• avanāmitām: bent downward, slightly stooping

• mahauṣadhi-gaṇa: groups/collections of great medicinal herbs

• ābaddha: bound, fastened, secured

• mantra-rāja: king of mantras, sovereign mantra (chief spell)

• niṣevitām: attended, served, frequented, employed/ministered to

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the technical Vastu/Iconography discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Mantra-raja
• Mahauṣadhi (great medicinal herbs)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Iconography
• Mantra
• Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a technical-ritual/iconographic description emphasizing form (appearance), medicinal-herb bindings, and mantra-service rather than cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through correct ritual practice: a king or householder sponsoring worship should ensure images/rituals follow prescribed lakṣaṇa (features) and are empowered through proper mantras and sanctioned ritual materials.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights mantra-prayoga (use of chief mantra) and the use of mahauṣadhi (potent herbs) as binding/securing agents—suggesting consecration/empowerment protocols tied to iconography within Matsya Purana’s Vastuvidyā tradition.