Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Duties of the Four Āśramas and the Power of Mauna

Devanagari script

तपसा कर्शितः क्षामः क्षीणमांसास्थिशोणितः यदा भवति निर्द्वंद्वो मुनिर्मौनं समास्थितः //

Transliteration

tapasā karśitaḥ kṣāmaḥ kṣīṇamāṃsāsthiśoṇitaḥ yadā bhavati nirdvaṃdvo munirmaunaṃ samāsthitaḥ //

Translation

When, worn down by austerities—emaciated, with flesh, bones, and blood diminished—a sage becomes free from the pairs of opposites, then he is said to be firmly established in silence (mauna).

Word by Word

तपसा (tapasā)by austerity

कर्शितः (karśitaḥ)wasted/attenuated

क्षामः (kṣāmaḥ)emaciated, lean

क्षीण (kṣīṇa)diminished

मांस (māṃsa)flesh

अस्थि (asthi)bones

शोणित (śoṇita)blood

यदा (yadā)when

भवति (bhavati)becomes

निर्द्वंद्वः (nirdvaṃdvaḥ)beyond dualities/pairs of opposites

मुनिः (muniḥ)sage

मौनम् (maunam)silence, vow of silence/inner stillness

समास्थितः (samāsthitaḥ)firmly established, fully settled in

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

MuniMaunaTapas

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss cosmic creation or pralaya; it focuses on inner dissolution—transcending dualities through austerity and establishing mauna as a mark of spiritual steadiness.

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

Indirectly, it presents the renunciant ideal: a ruler or householder can learn restraint, equanimity, and control of speech and reactions to pleasure–pain—virtues that stabilize governance and ethical living even without adopting full asceticism.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the discipline of mauna (silence) as a spiritual observance supporting concentration, self-mastery, and detachment.