Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces

Devanagari script

ततो वासिष्ठप्रमुखा भगिनीम् इति चुक्रुशुः ब्रह्मा न किंचिद् ददृशे तन्मुखालोकनाद् ऋते //

Transliteration

tato vāsiṣṭhapramukhā bhaginīm iti cukruśuḥ brahmā na kiṃcid dadṛśe tanmukhālokanād ṛte //

Translation

Then the sages, led by Vasiṣṭha, cried out, “Sister!” Yet Brahmā perceived nothing—except the sight of her face.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• vāsiṣṭha-pramukhāḥ: those headed by Vasiṣṭha (the sages)

• bhaginīm: (O) sister / the sister

• iti: thus

• cukruśuḥ: cried out, shouted

• brahmā: Brahmā

• na kiṃcit: nothing at all

• dadṛśe: saw, perceived

• tat-mukha-ālokanāt: from (the act of) looking at her face / except her face’s appearance

• ṛte: except, without (anything else).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) relating an early-creation episode within the Matsya Purana’s cosmogony

Entities Mentioned

• Vasiṣṭha
• Brahmā

Tags

• Creation
• Prajāpati lore
• Sages
• Cosmogony
• Matsya Purana narrative

FAQs

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

It reflects a creation-era motif of divine perception and manifestation: Brahmā’s awareness is limited to what is revealed (here, only the face is perceived), hinting that beings or forms in early creation can be partially manifest or concealed.

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

Indirectly, it underscores discernment (viveka): one should not presume full knowledge from partial appearances—an ethical caution relevant to judgment, testimony, and governance, even though this verse itself is not a rajadharma injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is narrative-cosmogonic. At most, it supports a broader Purāṇic theme that “darśana” (sacred seeing) can be central—later echoed in temple iconography and deity-darśana practices.