Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

भार्यां च तां देवगुरोर् अनङ्ग बाणाभिरामायतचारुनेत्राम् तारां स ताराधिपतिः स्मरार्तः केशेषु जग्राह विविक्तभूमौ //

Transliteration

bhāryāṃ ca tāṃ devaguror anaṅga bāṇābhirāmāyatacārunetrām tārāṃ sa tārādhipatiḥ smarārtaḥ keśeṣu jagrāha viviktabhūmau //

Translation

And her—Tārā, the wife of the preceptor of the gods, whose long and lovely eyes were enchanting like the arrows of Ananga (Kāma)—the lord of the stars, Soma/Chandra, tormented by desire, seized by the hair in a secluded place.

Word by Word

• भार्याम् (bhāryām): wife

• च (ca): and

• ताम् (tām): her

• देवगुरोः (devaguroḥ): of the guru of the gods (Bṛhaspati)

• अनङ्ग-बाण-अभिराम-आयत-चारु-नेत्राम् (anaṅga-bāṇa-abhirāma-āyata-cāru-netrām): having beautiful long eyes charming like the arrows of Ananga (Kāma)

• ताराम् (tārām): Tārā

• सः (saḥ): he

• ताराधिपतिः (tārādhipatiḥ): lord of the stars (the Moon, Soma/Chandra)

• स्मर-आर्तः (smarārtaḥ): afflicted by love/desire

• केशेषु (keśeṣu): by the hair

• जग्राह (jagrāha): seized/took hold of

• विविक्त-भूमौ (viviktabhūmau): in a secluded place

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode (narrative voice within Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Bṛhaspati (Devaguru)
• Tārā
• Soma/Chandra (Tārādhipati)
• Kāma (Ananga/Smara)

Tags

• Puranic narrative
• Desire (Kāma)
• Ethics
• Conflict origins
• Tārā–Soma episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmology; it depicts a moral-psychological cause of conflict—how uncontrolled desire (smara) drives transgressive acts that later ripple into larger social and divine disputes.

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

It functions as a cautionary example: violating marital boundaries and acting under lust is portrayed as adharma. For householders it underscores fidelity and self-restraint; for rulers it implies the need to curb passion, since private misconduct can trigger public disorder.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; the only setting detail—“a secluded place”—serves narrative emphasis rather than prescribing architectural or temple-building rules.