Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

यथेष्टाहारयुक्तं वै तमेव द्विजसत्तमम् रत्यर्थं कामदेवो ऽयम् इति चित्ते ऽवधार्य तम् //

Transliteration

yatheṣṭāhārayuktaṃ vai tameva dvijasattamam ratyarthaṃ kāmadevo 'yam iti citte 'vadhārya tam //

Translation

Having provided that excellent dvija with whatever food he desires, one should fix him in the mind, thinking: “For the sake of rati (erotic union), this is Kāmadeva himself.”

Word by Word

• यथेष्ट (yatheṣṭa): as desired, at one’s wish

• आहार (āhāra): food, nourishment

• युक्तम् (yuktam): furnished/provided/arranged

• वै (vai): indeed

• तम् एव (tam eva): that very one

• द्विजसत्तमम् (dvija-sattamam): the best of the twice-born (an excellent brahmin)

• रत्यर्थम् (raty-artham): for the purpose of rati (sexual pleasure/union)

• कामदेवः (kāmadevaḥ): the god of desire, Cupid

• अयम् (ayam): this

• इति (iti): thus

• चित्ते (citte): in the mind

• अवधार्य (avadhārya): having ascertained/fixed firmly

• तम् (tam): him.

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrative transmission) describing a prescribed rite; exact interlocutors not explicit from the isolated verse

Entities Mentioned

• Kāmadeva
• Dvija (brahmin)

Tags

• Kama
• Ritual-Visualization
• Bhavana
• Householder
• Matsya Purana ethics

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is not about pralaya or cosmology; it prescribes a psychological/ritual visualization connected with desire (kāma) and rati.

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

It aligns with gṛhastha-oriented conduct by framing desire within a regulated, intention-driven practice—feeding/hosting a qualified brahmin and directing the mind through controlled bhāvanā rather than uncontrolled impulse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it teaches a bhāvanā-based rite—after offering desired food, one mentally identifies the brahmin as Kāmadeva for the intended erotic objective; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated.