Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वाननं मण्डलदर्पणस्थं महाप्रभा मे मुखजेति जप्त्वा स्मृत्वा वराङ्गी रमणेरितानि तेनैव भावेन रतीमवाप //

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvānanaṃ maṇḍaladarpaṇasthaṃ mahāprabhā me mukhajeti japtvā smṛtvā varāṅgī ramaṇeritāni tenaiva bhāvena ratīmavāpa //

Translation

Having seen her face reflected in a round mirror, the fair-limbed woman repeatedly murmured, “My great radiance is born from my own face.” Remembering the lover’s words addressed to her, she attained rati—erotic delight—through that very same state of feeling.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• आननम् (ānanaṃ): face

• मण्डल-दर्पण-स्थम् (maṇḍala-darpaṇa-stham): situated in a circular mirror, reflected in a round mirror

• महाप्रभा (mahāprabhā): great radiance, great splendor

• मे (me): my

• मुखजा (mukhajā): born from the face / arising from the mouth-face (i.e., facial radiance)

• इति (iti): thus

• जप्त्वा (japtvā): having muttered/repeated (as a mantra)

• स्मृत्वा (smṛtvā): having remembered

• वराङ्गी (varāṅgī): the fair-limbed woman

• रमण-ईरितानि (ramaṇa-īritāni): spoken/uttered by the lover

• तेन एव (tena eva): by that very (means/state)

• भावेन (bhāvena): by the feeling, mental disposition, emotional fixation

• रतीम् (ratīm): erotic pleasure, amorous delight

• अवाप (avāpa): attained.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing an illustrative episode; not a direct Matsya–Manu dialogue in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• varāṅgī (the fair-limbed woman)
• ramaṇa (the lover)
• maṇḍala-darpaṇa (round mirror)

Tags

• Kama
• Rasa
• Bhava
• Purana narrative
• Psychology of desire

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it illustrates how inner mental states (bhāva) and remembrance (smṛti) can generate experiential outcomes—here, erotic delight (rati).

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

Indirectly, it points to self-discipline: desire can be intensified by memory and fixation. For householders, the Matsya Purāṇa often frames kāma as something to be regulated through right conduct and mindful control of thought.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or temple-ritual rule is taught here; the only “technical” object is the round mirror (maṇḍala-darpaṇa), used as poetic imagery for reflection and self-perception.