Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — Lineage of Yayāti through Yadu and the Deeds of Kārtavīrya Arjuna

Devanagari script

ललता क्रीडता तेन प्रतिस्रग्दाममालिनी ऊर्मिभ्रुकुटिसंत्रासाच् चकिताभ्येति नर्मदा //

Transliteration

lalatā krīḍatā tena pratisragdāmamālinī ūrmibhrukuṭisaṃtrāsāc cakitābhyeti narmadā //

Translation

As he sported with her, Narmadā—adorned with garlands and wreaths—came forward in startled haste, frightened by the frowning, wave-like ripples upon her brow.

Word by Word

• ललता (lalatā): the charming woman/beloved

• क्रीडता (krīḍatā): while sporting/playing

• तेन (tena): with him/by him

• प्रतिस्रग्दाममालिनी (prati-srag-dāma-mālinī): adorned with garlands (srag), wreaths/strings (dāma), and floral ornaments (mālinī)

• ऊर्मि (ūrmi): wave/ripple

• भ्रुकुटि (bhrukuṭi): frown/knitted brow

• संत्रासात् (saṃtrāsāt): from fear/terror

• चकिता (cakitā): startled, alarmed

• अभ्येति (abhyeti): comes forward/approaches

• नर्मदा (narmadā): the river Narmadā (personified goddess).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the Narmadā in a māhātmya-style narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Narmadā

Tags

• Narmada
• TirthaMahatmya
• SacredGeography
• RiverGoddess
• PuranicPoetics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is poetic sacred-geography, personifying the Narmadā as a goddess reacting with fear and movement.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ethic of tīrtha-sevā—reverence for sacred rivers and pilgrimage—encouraging householders (and rulers) to protect holy waters and uphold dharmic traditions tied to them.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the sanctity of Narmadā as a worship-worthy deity, suitable for river-adoration (snāna, tarpaṇa, and tīrtha observances).