Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

संदोलनाद् उच्छ्वसितैश्छिन्नसूत्रैः काञ्चीभ्रष्टैर्मणिभिर्विप्रकीर्णैः दोलाभूमिस्तैर्विचित्रा विभाति चन्द्रस्य पार्श्वोपगतैर् विचित्रा //

Transliteration

saṃdolanād ucchvasitaiśchinnasūtraiḥ kāñcībhraṣṭairmaṇibhirviprakīrṇaiḥ dolābhūmistairvicitrā vibhāti candrasya pārśvopagatair vicitrā //

Translation

From the swaying motion, pearls and gems—flung out, their strings snapped and slipped from girdles—lie scattered about; and with them the ground beneath the swing shines in variegated splendor, like the moon’s side adorned with mottled brilliance.

Word by Word

संदोलनाद्from swaying/oscillation

उच्छ्वसितैःflung up, tossed about

छिन्नसूत्रैःwith broken threads/strings

काञ्चीभ्रष्टैःfallen from the waist-girdle

मणिभिःwith gems/pearls/jewels

विप्रकीर्णैःscattered in all directions

दोलाभूमिःthe ground/floor of the swing-area

तैःby those/with those

विचित्राvariegated, multi-hued

विभातिshines, appears radiant

चन्द्रस्यof the moon

पार्श्वोपगतैःlying along/approaching the side (as if on the moon’s flank)

विचित्राpatterned, wondrous

Speaker

Suta (narrative voice recounting Matsya Purana’s architectural-poetic description; ultimately within the Matsya–Manu teaching stream)

Entities Mentioned

Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is an aesthetic-architectural vignette describing jeweled ornaments scattered by motion and the resulting visual brilliance.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the royal/householder ideal of maintaining refined, orderly, and well-adorned spaces used for celebration, ritual, or reception—an emphasis often paired with dharmic patronage of arts and architecture.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It highlights “visual effect” (śobhā) as a design principle—how movement, ornament placement, and reflective materials (gems, strings, girdle-jewels) enhance the perceived beauty of a built space, a concern central to Vastu and prasāda/maṇḍapa aesthetics.