Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

कलप्रलापेषु च दानवीनां वीणाप्रलापेषु च मूर्छितेषु मत्तप्रलापेषु च कोकिलानां सचापबाणो मदनो ममन्थ //

Transliteration

kalapralāpeṣu ca dānavīnāṃ vīṇāpralāpeṣu ca mūrchiteṣu mattapralāpeṣu ca kokilānāṃ sacāpabāṇo madano mamantha //

Translation

Amid the sweet, artful chatter of the women, amid the swooning strains of the vīṇā, and amid the intoxicated calls of the cuckoos—Kāma (Madana), armed with bow and arrows, churned and stirred the heart.

Word by Word

• kala-pralāpeṣu: in sweet/soft prattle

• ca: and

• dānavīnām: of the women (feminine plural, here indicating charming young women)

• vīṇā-pralāpeṣu: in the resonant ‘speech’/music of the vīṇā

• ca: and

• mūrchiteṣu: in swooning, entrancing (melodic) passages

• matta-pralāpeṣu: in intoxicated/rapturous calls

• ca: and

• kokilānām: of the cuckoos

• sa-cāpa-bāṇaḥ: together with bow and arrows (armed with bow and shafts)

• madanaḥ: Madana/Kāma, the god of love

• mamantha: churned, agitated, powerfully stirred (the mind/heart).

Speaker

• Suta (narrative description within the Matsya Purana’s poetic episode; not a direct instruction by Lord Matsya to Manu in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Madana (Kama)
• Kokila (cuckoo)
• Vina (vīṇā)

Tags

• Kama
• Rasa
• Poetics
• Spring
• Soundscape

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya (cosmic dissolution); it is a rasa-oriented description showing how sensory beauty (music, birdsong, gentle speech) awakens Kāma and agitates the heart.

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

Indirectly, it cautions that desire arises through sound and companionship; a householder or king is advised in Purāṇic ethics to practice restraint (dama) and discernment so that pleasure does not overpower dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse instead highlights auspicious sound-forms (vīṇā, kokila) used in cultural settings, which can accompany festivals and seasonal rites.