Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Manifestation of Kauśikī

Devanagari script

*देव्युवाच तपसा दुष्करेणाप्तः पतित्वे शंकरो मया स मां श्यामलवर्णेति बहुशः प्रोक्तवान्भवः //

Transliteration

*devyuvāca tapasā duṣkareṇāptaḥ patitve śaṃkaro mayā sa māṃ śyāmalavarṇeti bahuśaḥ proktavānbhavaḥ //

Translation

The Goddess said: “By arduous austerities (tapas) I obtained Śaṅkara as my husband; and then Bhava (Śiva) repeatedly addressed me as ‘the dark-complexioned one’ (Śyāmalavarṇā).”

Word by Word

• devī uvāca: the Goddess said

• tapasā: by austerity, through penance

• duṣkareṇa: difficult, hard-to-perform

• āptaḥ: obtained, attained

• patitve: in (the matter of) husbandhood/as husband

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• mayā: by me

• saḥ: he

• mām: me

• śyāmala-varṇā iti: ‘dark-hued/greenish-dark in complexion’ thus

• bahuśaḥ: many times, repeatedly

• proktavān: spoke/called (me)

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva).

Speaker

• Devī (Pārvatī/Umā)

Entities Mentioned

• Devī
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Bhava (Śiva)

Tags

• Devi-Shiva
• Names and epithets
• Tapas
• Puranic iconography
• Matsya Purana narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on Devī’s austerity and Śiva’s repeated use of her epithet ‘Śyāmalavarṇā’ (dark-hued), reflecting devotional and iconographic characterization rather than cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it elevates tapas (disciplined effort) and steadfast intention as virtues—values the Matsya Purana often upholds for householders and rulers alike—showing that worthy aims are achieved through sustained self-discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key significance is iconographic: ‘śyāmala-varṇa’ functions as a complexion-marker useful in pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-description) traditions, guiding how the Goddess may be envisioned or represented in ritual and temple imagery.