Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

रोमाञ्चितैर्गात्रवरैर्युवभ्यो रतानुरागाद् रमणेन चान्याः स्वयं द्रुतं यान्ति मदाभिभूताः क्षपा यथा चार्कदिनावसाने //

Transliteration

romāñcitairgātravarairyuvabhyo ratānurāgād ramaṇena cānyāḥ svayaṃ drutaṃ yānti madābhibhūtāḥ kṣapā yathā cārkadināvasāne //

Translation

Some women, their lovely bodies thrilled with gooseflesh, out of desire for union and love of a lover, go swiftly of their own accord toward young men, overcome by the intoxication of passion—just as night comes on at the end of the sunlit day.

Word by Word

• romāñcitaiḥ: thrilled (with gooseflesh)

• gātra-varaiḥ: with excellent/lovely limbs

• yuvabhyaḥ: toward young men

• ratānurāgāt: from longing for sexual union

• ramaṇena: with/for a lover (beloved)

• ca: and

• anyāḥ: other (women)

• svayam: of themselves/voluntarily

• drutam: swiftly

• yānti: go/approach

• mada-abhibhūtāḥ: overpowered by passion/intoxication

• kṣapā: night

• yathā: just as

• ca: and

• arka-dina-avasāne: at the end of the sun’s day (daylight’s close).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purana discourse voice; likely Suta conveying the teaching within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Arka (Sun)
• Kṣapā (Night)

Tags

• Kama
• Stri-svabhava
• Ethics
• Narrative
• Matsya Purana teachings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic creation or Pralaya; it uses a natural metaphor—night arriving after day—to illustrate how quickly passion can arise and compel action.

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

It cautions that kama (desire) can overpower judgment and move people swiftly; for householders and rulers, it implies the need for self-restraint, discernment, and ethical boundaries in relationships to protect dharma and social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the only technical element is a poetic time-cycle comparison (day’s end leading to night) used to convey psychological urgency.