Shloka 52

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

अरुन्धती सतीनां तु रामासु च तिलोत्तमा चित्ते ब्रह्मकला नाम शक्तिः सर्वशरीरिणाम् //

Transliteration

arundhatī satīnāṃ tu rāmāsu ca tilottamā citte brahmakalā nāma śaktiḥ sarvaśarīriṇām //

Translation

Among chaste and faithful wives she is Arundhatī; among women of beauty and good fortune she is Ramā, and also Tilottamā. In the mind of all embodied beings, that power is known as Brahmakalā.

Word by Word

• अरुन्धती: Arundhatī (ideal of wifely fidelity)

• सतीनाम्: of the chaste/virtuous women

• तु: indeed/and

• रामासु: among the Rāmās (Lakṣmī-like, auspicious women)

• च: and

• तिलोत्तमा: Tilottamā (the celestial nymph famed for beauty)

• चित्ते: in the mind/heart-consciousness

• ब्रह्मकला: Brahmakalā (a divine ‘portion/power’ connected with Brahman/creative intelligence)

• नाम: named/known as

• शक्तिः: power, śakti

• सर्वशरीरिणाम्: of all embodied beings

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, continuing the chapter’s catalog of Śaktis)

Entities Mentioned

• Arundhatī
• Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• Tilottamā
• Brahmakalā
• Śakti

Tags

• Śakti-tattva
• Iconography
• Devī-names
• Mind (Citta)
• Puranic taxonomy

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it classifies a divine power (Śakti) as present within the mind (citta) of all embodied beings, implying an inner cosmic principle that persists through changing states.

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

By holding up Arundhatī as the model of chastity and Ramā as auspicious prosperity, it reinforces household ideals—fidelity, purity, and dharmic prosperity—that a king protects in society and a householder cultivates in family life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse itself is not architectural, but such Śakti-name catalogues are used in ritual/iconographic contexts to identify and invoke specific powers (e.g., Brahmakalā as a mind-centered śakti) during consecration, worship, and deity-description traditions linked to Matsya Purana pratima-lakṣaṇa.