Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच अवदद्राजपुत्रो ऽपि स पिपीलिकभाषितम् रागवाग्भिः समुत्पन्नम् एतद्धास्यं वरानने //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca avadadrājaputro 'pi sa pipīlikabhāṣitam rāgavāgbhiḥ samutpannam etaddhāsyaṃ varānane //

Translation

Sūta sprach: Auch jener Königssohn redete und ließ eine „Ameisenrede“ verlauten; und mit Worten, die aus Leidenschaft (rāga) aufstiegen, brachte er dieses Lachen hervor, o Schönantlitzige.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• avadat: spoke/said

• rājaputraḥ: the prince

• api: also/too

• saḥ: he

• pipīlikā-bhāṣitam: ant-speech (tiny, petty, or chirping talk)

• rāga-vāgbhiḥ: with words born of passion/attachment

• samutpannam: arisen/produced

• etat: this

• hāsyam: laughter/a humorous utterance

• varānane: O fair-faced lady

Speaker

• Sūta

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• rājaputra (the prince)
• varānane (addressed listener)

Tags

• Narrative
• Dialogue
• Characterization
• Ethics
• Speech

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it functions as narrative framing, highlighting how emotion-driven speech (rāga) colors human behavior within the story.

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

By portraying a prince speaking from rāga (passion/attachment), it implicitly cautions rulers and householders to govern speech and emotion—since impulsive, petty talk can lead to ridicule, loss of dignity, and ethical decline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is literary and ethical—showing tone, intention, and restraint in speech within Purāṇic narration.