Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Code of Conduct and Vow-Procedure for Courtesans

Devanagari script

हुताशनसुताः सर्वा भवन्त्यो ऽप्सरसः पुरा अप्रणम्यावलेपेन परिपृष्टः स योगवित् कथं नारायणो ऽस्माकं भर्ता स्याद् इत्युपादिश //

Transliteration

hutāśanasutāḥ sarvā bhavantyo 'psarasaḥ purā apraṇamyāvalepena paripṛṣṭaḥ sa yogavit kathaṃ nārāyaṇo 'smākaṃ bhartā syād ityupādiśa //

Translation

Formerly, all of you—the Apsarases, daughters of Hutāśana (Agni)—questioned that knower of Yoga in pride, without first bowing in reverence: “How could Nārāyaṇa ever become our husband?” Thus did you seek instruction.

Word by Word

• हुताशन-सुताः (hutāśana-sutāḥ): daughters of Hutāśana (Agni)

• सर्वाः (sarvāḥ): all

• भवन्त्यः (bhavantyaḥ): you (ladies)

• अप्सरसः (apsarasaḥ): Apsarases/celestial nymphs

• पुरा (purā): formerly/once

• अप्रणम्य (apraṇamya): without bowing/without paying homage

• अवलेपेन (avalepena): with arrogance/pride

• परिपृष्टः (paripṛṣṭaḥ): fully questioned/asked

• सः (saḥ): he

• योग-वित् (yoga-vit): knower of Yoga/spiritual adept

• कथम् (katham): how?

• नारायणः (nārāyaṇaḥ): Narayana (Vishnu)

• अस्माकम् (asmākam): of us/our

• भर्ता (bhartā): husband/lord

• स्यात् (syāt): could be/would be

• इति (iti): thus

• उपादिश (upādiśa): you asked/you requested instruction (lit. “teach!”)

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting an earlier episode involving a yogavit

Entities Mentioned

• Hutashana (Agni)
• Apsarases
• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Yogavit (knower of Yoga)

Tags

• Vaishnava
• Humility
• Pride
• Apsarases
• Yoga

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a moral-theological episode highlighting pride (avalepa) versus reverence, and the exalted status of Nārāyaṇa.

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

It reinforces the dharmic ethic of humility and proper reverence toward the spiritually realized and toward the divine; prideful questioning is portrayed as a fault to be corrected through right instruction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the only ritual cue is the implied importance of प्रणाम (bowing/obeisance) as a marker of proper conduct.